More than 7,000 aggressive driving or speeding offences reported in July: SGI

A video captured last month of a driver speeding through a highway construction zone showed the dangers of reckless driving and speeding. SGI’s July safety statistics, however, show that this example, though extreme, isn’t unusual.

In July, Saskatchewan police reported 62 tickets for exceeding 60 km/h when passing highway workers or occupied highway equipment within a work zone. Three tickets were given out for failing to obey the directions of a flag person. Five tickets were given out, collectively, for driving faster than 60 km/h when passing occupied highway equipment or equipment on the highway with warning lights.

These numbers only reflect driers caught and ticketed by police on the roadside. Further incidents were recorded through photo speed enforcement in various construction zones and drivers will be receiving tickets by mail over the coming weeks.

Drivers are required to slow to 60 kilometres per hour or the posted speed when passing a highway worker, flag person or highway equipment with flashing warning lights.

More than 7,000 aggressive driving or speeding offences were also reported in July, along wth more than 800 distracted driving offences (almost 700 of which involved cellphones), almost 600 incidents involving inappropriate or no seatbelt or vehicle restraints for children, and 467 impaired driving offences.

“Trying to make up time on the road isn’t worth an expensive ticket or a dangerous situation,” SGI said in a release Tuesday.

Serious injury, death and property damage for a driver or construction crews are some of the risks of dangerous and distracted driving.

SGI advises drivers to plan ahead to help prevent feeling rushed behind the wheel and making sure to be well rested before driving to better handle traffic delays and road hazards.