SGI’s July Traffic Safety Spotlight provided evidence that not everyone has tuned into the messages impaired driving. Simply put, SGI says too many people continue to choose to drive while impaired.
In its release, SGI indicates that in July, law enforcement stopped 497 impaired drivers, including 292 drivers who were charged with Criminal Code offences. While not an all-time record high, this is the most impaired driving offences in a single month so far this year. While the insurer acknowledges that summer is about having a good time, the best way to ensure the good times continue is to find a safe ride home.
The focus for August was distracted driving, after police reported 581 offences in July - and 454 of them were for using a mobile device behind the wheel. Distracted driving still accounts for about one in five auto crash injuries in the province and is one of the leading causes of injury and death on Saskatchewan roads.
Those totals should be in soon, as SGI always works to signal its message of #JustDrive.
Other results from the July spotlight include:
· 5,411 speeding or aggressive driving offences
· 375 tickets for not wearing a seatbelt or having a child improperly restrained. It’s easy to avoid these tickets, every time you get in a vehicle, take a second to #MakeItClick.
SGI invites motorist to get more information at SGI.sk.ca and on its social media outlets.