Traffic check stops during Canada’s safe driving week, held from December 1-7 were a reminder that there is work to be done in making roadways safer. Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan (CTSS) consisting of municipal police forces and RCMP deployed check stops throughout the province.
A release from Saskatchewan RCMP states that during the week, officers encountered 64 drivers who had recently consumed alcohol or drugs prior to driving, six of whom were charged with Criminal Code impaired driving charges. The other 58 drivers received roadside suspensions.
In total, CTSS officers issued 1347 traffic charges, 1349 warnings, and 111 vehicle defect inspection notices to drivers on Saskatchewan’s roadways. These included:
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713 charges and 324 warnings for speeding;
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97 charges and 22 warnings for cellphone use while driving;
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9 charges and 26 warnings for careless driving;
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43 charges and 19 warnings for seatbelt misuse;
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76 charges and 30 warnings for intersection-related offences;
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38 charges and 8 warnings for invalid driver’s license;
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6 charges for driving while disqualified, suspended, or prohibited;
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86 charges and 41 warnings for invalid vehicle registration;
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256 charges and 868 warnings for all other Traffic Safety Act offences;
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23 charges and 5 warnings for open alcohol or cannabis in a motor vehicle.
One such safety concern was noted when a Swift Current officer pulled over a semi unit hauling round bales on the #1 Highway near Ernfold. The bales appeared to be swaying in a dangerous fashion on the trailer. During the traffic stop, the officer determined the bales were entirely unsecured despite the fact that the driver possessed adequate straps. The truck also did not have wide mirrors equipped to adequately see around the trailer’s wide load. The driver was ordered to properly secure the cargo before proceeding from the traffic stop and was ticketed for both the unsecure load and the inadequate mirrors.
This represents just one such safety concern that make road safety critical for all drivers all year, not only during Canada Safe Driving Week.
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