Thousands busted for speeding in February: SGI

There are more than 4,000 lighter wallets around Saskatchewan this month, after police and SGI focused on speeding and aggressive driving in February.

The majority of the 4,251 tickets handed out last month were for speeding, and SGI said that includes 164 drivers exceeding the limit by more than 35 kilometres per hour, 35 drivers going more than 50 km/h over the speed limit, and 144 tickets for failing to slow to 60 km/h while passing emergency vehicles or tow trucks with their lights activated.

Also included in the total were 59 tickets for speeding in school zones, 26 tickets for “driving at a speed greater than reasonable and safe,” 18 stunting tickets, and three fines for street racing, SGI added.

“Even if you don’t cause a collision, a speeding ticket is a quick way to wreck your day and put a dent in your bank account,” the Crown insurance provider said in a statement.

“The faster you’re going, the more that ticket costs, and the most serious speed-related offences also come with additional consequences like vehicle impoundments and licence suspensions.”

With temperatures changing rapidly as spring makes its way into Saskatchewan, road conditions can also change at the drop of a hat, which SGI said “is another good reason to slow down.”

Other tickets handed out in February included 613 fines for distracted driving — 529 of which were for cellphone use — and 342 impaired driving offences, SGI said.