SGI warns drivers to stay off screens, slow down during safety campaign

SGI has officially launched its brand-new traffic safety awareness campaign.

Summer is here, which means more time is spent on the highways getting out to the lake or coming into the city. Whether it’s walking, riding or driving, there are a few things to keep in mind before getting behind the wheel.

Sgt. Patrick Barbar of the Saskatoon Police Service said there are a few tips to keep in mind that can ultimately save lives on the roads.

“Things that drivers can do to prevent collisions … (include) look twice and save a life,” Barbar said. “We’re asking drivers to actively look for other road users who may be vulnerable.

“Motorcycles are harder to see; they only have one headlight. Cyclists are harder to see; they don’t have any headlights. And we tend not to look for pedestrians.”

One of the big roots of the problem of not seeing these drivers comes from distracted driving, according to the sergeant.

Barbar says it’s mind-boggling how many drivers he sees on their screens.

“Distracted driving is a huge concern to vulnerable road users,” he said. “A car going 50 kilometres an hour every second travels approximately 13 metres or just about 40 feet.

“So if you’re looking down looking at your phone for two seconds, you’ve now covered 80 feet. So that’s kind of frightening.”

A distracted driving ticket can do damage to the wallet.

According to Barbar, the first distracted driving offence will cost you $580. A second distracted driving offence will ring you an additional $1,400 and a vehicle impound.

A third one within a year is $2,100 with a vehicle impound.

“We find those people, the two- and three-time offenders, are out there so clearly there’s a problem,” he said.

Barbar says it’s pretty obvious that a good chunk of the population is addicted to their tablets, which needs to be addressed.

“So many people seem to be addicted to their phones,” he said. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve actually watched people, as soon as they get to a red light, they pick up their phone because they’re bored.”

He says you can see it everywhere you go.

“You can see the same phenomenon in the lineup at the grocery store,” Barbar said. “We’re just conditioned as soon as there’s no stimulus around us, we pick up our phones. That’s a really bad habit in a car.”

Tyler McMurchy, media relations manager with SGI, said how vital it is for drivers to stay off their device on the highways.

“(We stress) the importance of remaining undistracted because you don’t know what you might encounter, whether it’s a deer stepping out on the road or a motorcyclist that might come out of nowhere,” McMurchy said.

“(We focus on) keeping your eyes off your phone, keeping your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road (and) being aware of your surroundings.”

McMurchy touched base on fatal collisions that include big trucks and the uptick over the last two years.

“People might not be aware. In 2020, we saw semi-trucks represent about three per cent of vehicles involved in collisions, but they represented 13 per cent of vehicles involved in fatal collisions,” McMurchy said.

“Typically, the majority of times, it’s not the semi driver’s fault. We’re asking drivers to be semi smart.”

McMurchy says it’s important to know semi drivers need more time to stop and to keep their blind spots in mind when passing. If not, he says there could be tragic consequences.