SGI's traffic safety spotlight for August, focusing on rural roads and safety tips for driving on gravel, has come and gone. But the reminder to be wary of the added challenges dirt roads present is ever-present.

Tyler McMurchy is the Manager of Media Relations with SGI.

"Traction and visibility are all a little bit different. Speed limits are lower on rural roads and so that was something that we were focusing on in August. There are more than 5,000 kilometres of rural roads in Saskatchewan, so it's something that is a part of driving here and we wanted drivers to think about some of the unique challenges when it came to navigating those rolled roads."

Those extra challenges can be plenty; like diminished visibility due to the dust thrown up by the vehicle in front, hilly terrain, uncontrolled intersections and encounters with wildlife or farm animals.

McMurchy says that while there are few laws that specifically relate to rural roads, but that common sense should be the watchword when travelling, either paved or non-paved.

"We want people to take home the message that it doesn't really matter if you're on a gravel road or a city, street or paved highway or even a back alley. The rules of the road apply anytime you're behind the wheel."

He talks about the "Big Four"; meaning the big four factors when it comes to fatality and injury-causing collisions on Saskatchewan roads. Speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving and lack of seatbelt use.

In August, police reported:

  • 5,458 aggressive driving or speeding offences;
  • 418 impaired driving offences (including 312 Criminal Code charges);
  • 799 distracted driving offences (including 683 for cellphone use while driving);
  • 411 inappropriate or no seatbelt/child restraint offences.

If that looks like that distracted driving number is climbing back up from its historic lows just after the new, heftier fines were introduced, that's because according to McMurchy, it is. In 2020 he says that the average number of monthly distracted driving tickets was roughly 500, down significantly from the 838 average before the new penalties took effect. 799 in the month of August would seem to be returning to old heights of infamy.

"Either police are getting better at catching distracted drivers, or some drivers have maybe forgotten about the very significant penalties that accompany a distracted driving offence."