In August alone, 30 people have lost their lives on Saskatchewan highways

For the 2012 calendar year, 120 people have died on Saskatchewan highways. Last year on this date there were 87 fatalities to date. All three of these numbers are far too large and sadly, many of these fatalities could have been prevented.

There are 3 clear trends that have emerged in terms of contributing factors in these fatalities:

1. Alcohol involvement

2. Driver inattention

3. Speed

The non-use of seatbelts continues to be a significant contributing factor to the number of fatalities—roughly 40 per cent of our fatalities are a product of the non-use of seatbelts. Making the decision to not wear a seatbelt when in a motor vehicle drastically increases the likelihood of serious injury or death.

This coming weekend, the RCMP throughout the province will be conducting an enhanced enforcement project beginning on Friday and running through Monday. Our members will be focusing on Highway #16 and Highway #1—with secondary focus on Highway #7 and #11.

These highways are the roadways with the heaviest traffic volume in the province and it is important on a weekend such as the Labour Day Long Weekend, that we do our utmost to ensure that all motorists are reminded of roadway safety through a strong and consistent safety message sent via police presence and enforcement activities.

Officers will be on the road in marked and unmarked vehicles, on police motorcycles—roving and stationary. Officers will be working throughout the areas of the province covered by the noted highways. This is in addition to the patrols and enforcement actions that will be undertaken by the detachment personnel who are working this weekend as well.

Being the victim of a Labour Day collision is no way to spend the last long weekend of the summer.