Saskatchewan tables legislation to enhance traffic safety, align commercial carrier monitoring with other jurisdictions

The Saskatchewan government has tabled proposed changes to the province’s Traffic Safety Act Thursday in a move meant to fulfill its commitment to address fatalities on Saskatchewan’s roads.

Donna Harpauer, minister responsible for Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI), tabled the amendments in the legislative assembly Thursday, notes a statement from SGI, the province’s self-sustaining auto insurance fund.

Among other things, the amendments will strengthen penalties for impaired driving, including longer suspensions, vehicle impoundments and mandatory ignition interlock requirements.

“With the new laws being put into place, Saskatchewan will have one of the toughest packages of impaired driving legislation in Canada,” Harpauer says in the statement.

SGI reports that, if passed, the proposed changes will enable a photo radar pilot project at high-risk locations and in school zones around the province, and make booster seats mandatory for children under the age of seven who fall within the prescribed height and weight guidelines.

Changes are also being proposed related to commercial carriers. The amendments will strengthen harmonization under the New West Partnership Agreement and align safety monitoring practices for commercial carriers with other jurisdictions, the statement notes.

Authority for commercial carrier safety monitoring would now reside with SGI, which will be allowed to publicly release commercial carrier safety information, similar to other Canadian jurisdictions.

It is anticipated the draft legislation will receive the green light during the 2014 spring legislative sitting.