Canada Road Safety Week: drive safe this May long weekend

The days are getting longer, the weather is getting warmer, and many people will be hitting the road this long weekend as we celebrate the unofficial start of summer.

This week is also Canada Road Safety Week. Saskatchewan RCMP, as well as other police services and government agencies across the country, will be working to encourage safe driving practices. The campaign focuses on eliminating impaired driving, distracted driving, aggressive driving, and driving without a seatbelt.

“As of May 9, Saskatchewan RCMP and Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan have investigated 19 fatal collisions in Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction this year. This is a 90% increase in fatal collisions compared to the 10 that were reported at the same time last year,” says Supt. Grant St. Germaine, the officer in charge of Saskatchewan RCMP Traffic Services. “It’s important to note that many of these collisions remain under investigation and we can’t yet speak to what has caused them all. But this is not a trend we want to see continue. Given the anticipated increase in traffic as we head into the long weekend, I encourage all motorists to make safe choices when they are behind the wheel. We all have a part to play in keeping Saskatchewan’s roads as safe as possible.”

Saskatchewan RCMP asks residents to keep the following in mind:

-Always ensure everyone in your vehicle is wearing a seatbelt. Protect your young passengers. Children 12 and under are safest in the back seat of a vehicle in proper restraints based on their age, height, and weight. Learn more about car seat requirements at https://www.sgi.sk.ca/carseats and booster seat requirements at https://www.sgi.sk.ca/boster-seatbelt.

-Keep your phone out of reach. In Saskatchewan, using a hand-held cellphone while driving is prohibited for making or receiving phone calls, sending, receiving or reading text messages and emails, surfing the internet and using “push-to-talk” technology. Also be mindful that other things such as eating/drinking, conversations with passengers, and pets can be distracting. Give your full attention to the task at hand: driving safely.

-Give yourself time to get where you are going. This prevents speeding and ensures you are focused on road safety. Posted speed limits are maximum speeds during ideal conditions (dry roads, clear visibility). Vehicle type, condition and whether or not you are towing anything can affect the speed at which you can safely travel.

-If you - or guests - will be consuming products which result in impairment, such as alcohol or cannabis, have a designated driver assigned or plan to take a cab or transit. If no safe ride is available, stay the night and drive only when sober. Don’t take a chance. If you question whether you’re “too impaired to drive or not”, you likely are.

-If you see a suspected impaired driver, pull over and immediately call 911. Signs of a possible impaired driver include: lane drifting; driving too fast, slow or at an inconsistent speed; not using proper signals; making very wide turns; approaching and leaving intersections too slowly or quickly; and driving without headlights or leaving high beams or turn signals on.

Saskatchewan RCMP will be conducting high-visibility enforcement on Saskatchewan roads and highways during peak travel times during Canada Road Safety Week and May long weekend. When approaching a check stop, slow down and follow the directions of police officers on scene.

A reminder that drivers must slow to 60 km/hr when passing an emergency vehicle (police vehicles, ambulances, fire trucks, highway service or construction vehicles or tow trucks) with their lights engaged.

Saskatchewan RCMP thanks drivers for their patience and support as everyone works together to keep the province’s roads safe.