Saskatchewan Government Insurance says it may feel like summer is flying by, but that’s still no excuse to go flying through work zones during your travels. Drivers are required to slow to 60 km/h or the speed that’s posted when passing a highway worker, flag person or highway equipment with warning lights flashing.
The results from the July Traffic Safety Spotlight on work zones show that, for July, police across Saskatchewan reported:
- 62 tickets were issued for exceeding 60 km/h when passing highway workers or occupied highway equipment within a work zone,
- 1 ticket was issued for exceeding 60 km/h when passing a highway worker or flag person,
- 3 tickets for exceeding 60 km/h when passing occupied highway equipment,
- 2 tickets for exceeding 60 km/h when passing highway equipment with warning lights in operation, and
- 3 tickets for failing to obey the directions of a flag person.
(Note: The above speeding offences only reflect drivers caught and ticketed at roadside by police officers; photo speed enforcement also takes place in construction zones, so many more drivers will be receiving tickets in the mail in the coming weeks.)
Disobeying work zone speed limits is a serious concern and can lead to not only property damage for the driver and construction crews, but serious injury and even death for those involved. So, plan ahead to ensure you won’t feel rushed and make sure you’re well rested before hitting the road, so you are best prepared to handle any traffic delays or road hazards. Trying to make up time on the road isn’t worth an expensive ticket or a dangerous situation.
The following results were also reported in July:
- 7,457 aggressive driving or speeding offences
- 819 distracted driving offences (including 691 for cellphone use while driving)
- 591 inappropriate or no seatbelt/child restraint offences
- 467 impaired driving offences (including 340 Criminal Code charges)
