REGINA — While many of us were planning our summer vacations in June, Saskatchewan police had some busy days at work due to the high number of people driving distracted or not buckled up, according to SGI.
Numbers reported in the June Traffic Spotlight showed 1,097 distracted driving offences (including 970 tickets for using a mobile phone while driving, and 127 tickets for driving without due care and attention.). Not only is that the highest number of distracted driving offences reported in a single month all year, but it’s also the first time the monthly reported number has exceeded 1,000 since 2019, before the cost of a ticket was substantially increased.
There were 706 seatbelt and car seat offences in June, which is the second-highest number ever reported in the history of the Traffic Safety Spotlights. Fun fact: Saskatchewan’s seatbelt law turned 46 years old on July 1.
“Whether you’re 46, 26 or 96, one of the best ways to ensure you see your next birthday is buckling up,” SGI observes.
The June Traffic Safety Spotlight was actually focused on impaired driving and used the MADD Crashed Car campaign as a visual reminder of these potential dangers. Saskatchewan law enforcement reported 410 people driving after exceeding the legal limits of alcohol or drugs last month. Included in those numbers were 169 Criminal Code charges and 241 administrative suspensions for exceeding provincial limits.
Police also reported 5,121 drivers received tickets for speeding or other aggressive driving offences in June. That number is actually below the average number of speeders reported in June, but it’s still less than ideal to have that many people caught exceeding the speed limit.
SGI suggests, “How about we give our friends in traffic enforcement a break? Fasten your seatbelts, drive sober and without distractions, while keeping your speed at or below the posted limits.”
