Stop us if you’ve heard this before:
“The stop sign, a red octagon with white lettering, means come to a full stop and be sure the way is clear before proceeding.”
“When approaching a red light, you must stop and remain stopped until the light changes.”
-The Saskatchewan Driver’s Handbook
Law enforcement were particularly focused on intersection safety in January as part of the first Traffic Safety Spotlight of 2021, and SGI asked drivers to spend some time thinking about the different types of intersections they drive through on a daily basis. (https://www.sgi.sk.ca/news?title=time-for-some-introspection-about-intersections)
Unfortunately, some drivers in Saskatchewan weren’t interested in following the rules at intersections Drivers who don’t follow the rules put themselves and other road users at risk, since nearly half of all collisions in Saskatchewan happen in intersections.
Police across Saskatchewan issued a total of 992 tickets related to intersections in January. Here’s how that number breaks down:
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446 drivers disobeyed stop signs
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165 drivers failed to stop at a red light
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125 drivers made U-turns at intersections controlled by traffic lights (that’s a no)
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256 drivers received tickets for various other intersection violations in The Traffic Safety Act
Those 992 drivers received tickets that will make it a bit more difficult to fulfil any New Year’s resolutions they might have made about saving their money. A ticket for failing to properly stop at a stop sign or for a red light costs $230, as does a ticket for making a u-turn at an intersection controlled by traffic lights.
For more intersection tips check out these videos on merging, four-way stops, uncontrolled intersections, and roundabouts.
Let’s get rail here
In January, SGI also focused on safety around railroads. It’s important to be alert and be prepared to stop when approaching railway crossings, because when a motor vehicle collides with a train, the train always wins.
Despite the speed and power of trains, 26 drivers were ticketed for disobeying stop signals/signal persons at railway crossings in January.
Still focused on the Big Four
Other results from the January Traffic Safety Spotlight include:
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301 impaired driving offences (including 237 Criminal Code charges);
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554 distracted driving tickets (including 476 for cellphone use);
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4,517 tickets for aggressive driving and speeding; and
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337 tickets for seatbelts and child restraints being used incorrectly or not at all.
Stay tuned to SGI’s social media accounts (find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) this month, as we continue to focus on impaired driving.
