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Motorcycles without licence plates are being driven at more than 200 kilometres per hour on Regina roads as police contend with a summer spike in street racing, excessive noise and other dangerous driving.
Regina police Const. Kevin Bowes and Saskatoon police Sgt. Ray Robertson said officers in both cities have received numerous complaints about speeding vehicles and motorcycles this summer.
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- Regina motorcyclist clocked at 200 km/h, police say
- What’s legal? Saskatoon and Regina police explain Saskatchewan’s cellphone distracted driving rules
- Novice driver allegedly caught going 204 km/h near Saskatoon, fined $1,515
Bowes, a member of the Combined Traffic Safety Services Saskatchewan unit, said the problem has been especially noticeable along major Regina roads, including Arcola Avenue, Chuka Boulevard, south Albert Street and Gordon Road through Harbour Landing.
“We’ve had a lot of calls for service regarding vehicles on the main streets,” Bowes said during an appearance on The Evan Bray Show.
He said motorcycles have been a particular concern this year, with some younger riders removing or concealing their licence plates and wearing clothing that makes them difficult to identify.
Bowes said some riders appeared to be treating a photo-radar camera on Ring Road like part of a competition.
“They would come around Ring Road northbound past the Parkway, where one of the photo-radar cameras was, and see how fast they could go,” he said. “We had lots of bikes in excess of 200 kilometres an hour.”
In another recent case, Bowes said the Regina police plane tracked a motorcycle travelling at more than 180 kilometres per hour on Lewvan Drive and running several red lights.
“They just don’t understand what’s going to happen if they lose control of that bike or hit a car,” Bowes said.
Robertson said Saskatoon is experiencing similar complaints involving motorcycles, high speeds and excessive vehicle noise.
“A lot of different areas in the city are reporting having issues with vehicle noise and speeds,” he said.
Robertson said motorcycles can tempt some riders to test their speed, but the consequences can be severe when risky behaviour occurs on public streets.
The officers also answered several common questions about Saskatchewan traffic laws, including whether drivers can look at a phone mounted inside their vehicle.
A person uses a cellphome mounted in the air vent of a car. SGI says experienced drivers who are no longer in the Graduated Driver Licensing program can use a hands-free device when it is mounted and activated with a voice command or one touch. (rukawajung/Depositphotos.com)
Under Saskatchewan law, drivers cannot hold, view, use or manipulate a cellphone while driving.
SGI says experienced drivers who are no longer in the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program can use a hands-free device when it is mounted and activated with a voice command or one touch. Hands-free cellphone use is prohibited for drivers in the GDL program.
Robertson cautioned that mounting a phone does not give a driver permission to read messages or otherwise engage with the screen.
“The description of the offence is hold, view, use or manipulate electronic communication equipment when operating a motor vehicle,” he said.
For drivers who need directions but cannot connect their phone to the vehicle, Robertson recommended entering the destination before leaving and relying on spoken instructions.
“Your phone can be put down in your centre console, off your person and out of your view, and then you just go from the voice prompts in order to get to where you’re going,” he said.
Bowes said officers typically need to observe more than an illuminated screen before issuing a ticket. That could include seeing someone hold or manipulate a phone or noticing driving behaviour that suggests the person is distracted.
“We’re looking more for holding it, more for manipulation, more for physically seeing the phone being used as opposed to simply viewed,” he said.
He added that stopping at a red light does not allow a driver to begin using a phone because the vehicle has not been legally pulled out of the driving lane.
The officers also reminded drivers to pull to the right and yield when an emergency vehicle approaches with its lights and siren activated.
However, Bowes said drivers should not enter a busy intersection against a red light and put themselves in danger while trying to make room.
“We recently had that happen in Regina, and the vehicle went into the intersection and was struck by another vehicle,” he said.
Bowes said police officers can deactivate their emergency equipment when traffic has nowhere to go or find another route around stopped vehicles.
“I don’t force people through that intersection,” he said. “Or if I can get around them somehow, I will.”
Drivers were also reminded that U-turns are prohibited at intersections controlled by traffic lights. Municipal bylaws can restrict them in other locations, including areas with heavy vehicle or pedestrian traffic.
“U-turns are just inherently dangerous as well because you’re turning and most of the time you’re blind when you’re making that turn,” Robertson said.
Speed limits are another area where the posted number does not tell the entire story. Robertson said a speed limit represents the maximum allowed under suitable conditions, not a speed drivers must maintain regardless of traffic, visibility or weather.
“Just because you can drive 50 doesn’t mean you should,” he said.
A driver travelling at or below the posted limit can still face consequences if the speed is unsafe for the circumstances, Robertson added.
Bowes and Robertson also offered the following clarifications:
- Drivers should remain stopped at a crosswalk until a pedestrian reaches the opposite sidewalk unless a raised median divides the road.
- A screenshot of a vehicle registration can help police confirm that a vehicle is registered, although officers can also verify its status electronically.
- Drivers can be ticketed for travelling unnecessarily slowly if they impede traffic or create a safety hazard.
- Saskatchewan drivers must pull to the right for approaching emergency vehicles using their lights and sirens.
- A person cannot be charged criminally with impaired driving for riding a conventional pedal bicycle, although some powered bikes or limited-speed motorcycles may be treated differently.
Robertson said additional officers will be on Saskatoon streets during the city’s annual cruise weekend on Aug. 14 to Aug. 16, which coincides with the Rock 102 Show and Shine.
The enforcement plan is expected to involve Saskatoon and Regina police members, Saskatchewan Highway Patrol and Corman Park police.
“We’ll have lots of officers out on the street, making sure that everybody abides by the traffic laws and rules,” Robertson said.
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