SGI released their yearly report that looks at collisions both across the province and in communities across Saskatchewan.
Their 2023 Traffic Collision Statistical Report outlines information about collisions recorded in the Traffic Accident Information System.
Compared to 2022, collisions as a whole are down 5.8 percent, with a total number of 28,238.
Of those collisions 92 deaths were associated with those, down by 11.5 per cent over last year, with injuries also down by 6.1 per cent, coming in at 5,392 in 2023.
The top factors in causing collisions last year for Saskatchewan were alcohol-related factors, road conditions, and drivers taking evasive actions.
596 collisions were recorded which involved a drinking or drugged driver, with 367 victims being either injured or killed. SGI recorded a 14.2 per cent decrease in collisions involving alcohol or drugs in 2023 from the previous year.
The report also outlines that not using safety restraints led to severe or fatal injuries 48 per cent of the time, while those who used restraints were severely or fatally injured only 7 per cent of the time.
One of the few increases was seen in injuries and deaths associated with improper use of safety equipment. That increased from the previous year to 137 injuries in 2023 compared to 130 in 2022, and 20 deaths in 2023 compared to 15 in 2022.
263 pedestrians were injured over the year with 16 pedestrian deaths recorded in the TAIS, with five of the pedestrians who were killed reported to have been drinking.
Of the 279 pedestrian incidents seen in the TAIS, 45.9 per cent of the time the pedestrian was trying to cross at an intersection where they had the right of way.
Here in Estevan, the area saw a decrease in the number of collisions by 7.3 per cent and a 57.1 per cent decrease in the number of traffic collision injuries.
Estevan saw a total of 122 collisions that involved property damage (108 instances) and personal injury (14 instances, with 16 people injured). No deaths were recorded within the city in 2023. A single pedestrian injury was reported, with no injuries from collisions with bicyclists.