The Saskatchewan RCMP is issuing a stark reminder to drivers to buckle up, noting that approximately half of the fatal collisions this year have involved people being ejected from a vehicle for not wearing a seatbelt. Drivers are also being reminded to obey posted speed limits in construction zones to ensure worker safety.
According to Superintendent Grant St. Germaine with the Saskatchewan RCMP, fatal crashes have seen a slight increase this year compared to last year. He said a significant factor in these fatalities is the lack of seatbelt use.
“Probably 50 per cent of the accidents that we're having where fatalities are involved and probably serious injuries as well are involving people being ejected from vehicles because they're not wearing seatbelts,” St. Germaine said.
He explained that even in crashes where impairment is a factor, the failure to wear a seatbelt is often what turns a collision into a fatality. In many cases, an impaired driver is thrown from the car, which then rolls over them.
“Even though the alcohol is a contributing factor to that fatality, the seatbelt is probably what really caused it because they got thrown out of the vehicle,” he stated. St. Germaine added a specific warning for those on gravel roads, where surfaces can be slippery, to ensure they are buckled up.
In addition to personal safety, St. Germaine addressed driver habits in construction zones. While acknowledging that slowing to 60 km/h can be frustrating for drivers, he stressed that the speed limits are in place to keep workers and other people safe.
“It's incumbent and important for all of us as drivers to obey those work zones,” St. Germaine said. “When it says slow to 60, please slow to 60, and that way we don't have any fatalities.”
He noted that so far, the message appears to be resonating with drivers.
“I don't think we've had any fatalities or any major crashes of any concern within construction zones this year,” St. Germaine added.