Police catch more than 3,600 speeders in Saskatchewan during April

Thousands of motorists were ticketed in April as part of the Saskatchewan-wide traffic safety spotlight focusing on speeding in work zones, and aggressive driving in general.

Law enforcement issued a total of 3,769 tickets related to excessive speed or aggressive driving during April, notes a statement issued Thursday by Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI), the province’s self-sustaining auto insurance fund. That total includes the following:

• 3,663 tickets for speeding;
• 95 tickets for aggressive driving;
• six tickets for stunting;
• four tickets for speeding in work zones; and
• one ticket for dangerous driving.

SGI reports that on April 16 and 17, police officers from all over the province also assembled in Moose Jaw for a  two-day Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) event. Although all traffic safety violations were enforced, there was a particular focus on seatbelts, cellphones, aggressive driving and impaired driving. In all, 339 tickets were issued, including 68 for speeding, 58 for non-seatbelt use, and 15 tickets for cellphone use while driving.

British Columbia is also looking to enhance road safety and avoid crashes involving cyclists in the province. In advance of Bike to Work Week, which runs from May 26 to June 1, the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) released tips this week on preventing the incidents.

The provincial government, police and ICBC are asking drivers and cyclists to share our roads and do their part to help keep everyone safe, notes a statement from ICBC, which reports that, on average, 160 cyclists are injured every month from May to October when crashes involving cyclists peak in the province.

Among ICBC’s tips for cyclists are the following: plan the route before setting off, allowing for plenty of time, and choosing bike lanes and paths whenever possible; plan for the conditions that may be encountered, including having reflective gear and lights in case they become necessary; and ride at least a metre away from parked vehicles to avoid being hit by an opening door or a vehicle pulling into your lane from the curb.

As for drivers, ICBC’s advice includes the following: actively watch for cyclists on the road and make eye contact whenever possible to let them know you see them; always shoulder check to look for cyclists before turning right and watch for oncoming cyclists before turning left; and understand that cyclists may need to react quickly and unexpectedly to avoid hazards on the road, so it is important to leave at least three seconds of following distance.

“As a cyclist, always make eye contact with drivers – never assume they’ve seen you,” John Dickinson, ICBC’s director of road safety, says in the statement. “Drivers should give cyclists plenty of room so they have time to react to sudden hazards,” Dickinson says.

Adds Suzanne Anton, Attorney General and B.C.’s Minister of Justice, “Put your ear buds and phones away, and keep your eyes on the road well ahead to watch for hazards like potholes, a car door opening into your path or a vehicle entering traffic from a laneway or parking lot. Drivers should also be aware and be scanning for cyclists.”