May Long driving dangers doubles, SGI cautions

The highway can be a dangerous place no matter what season or time you’re driving on it, but according to SGI, those risks can get even higher during a long weekend.

SGI Spokesperson Tyler McMurchy said that during a long weekend, the risks on the road actually double.

“It kind of makes sense when you think about the fact that more people are just going to be hitting the road; it’s an opportunity to get away, and serious collisions tend to happen more on provincial highways and rural roads where speeds are a little greater,” said McMurchy.

According to SGI, four major factors play a part in over 80% of the fatal accidents we see on highways. Those factors are impairment, distraction, speeding, and a lack of seatbelts. McMurchy said that if you keep these factors in mind over the weekend, you drastically improve your odds of being safe on the roads.

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“If you drive sober, drive without distractions, watch your speed, and make sure you’re wearing your seatbelt, you are far less likely to be involved in a fatal collision,” said McMurchy.

“It will also greatly reduce your chance of being injured as well because many of those factors are often present in the 4,000 to 5,000 serious injuries we see on Saskatchewan roads every year.”

Though things do seem bleak, according to SGI there has been a downward trend in the number of fatal crashes in the province over the past several years.

Superintendent Grant St. Germaine, who leads traffic services for the Saskatchewan RCMP, said Mounties are dealing with a major increase in fatal crashes in 2024.

“As of May 9, Saskatchewan RCMP and Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan have investigated 19 fatal collisions in Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction this year,” St. Germaine said in a statement.

“This is a 90% increase in fatal collisions compared to the 10 that were reported at the same time last year.”

In April, RCMP in Saskatchewan started screening all drivers stopped by officers for alcohol using a roadside test.