A significant improvement in the number of motor vehicle deaths on Saskatchewan roadways last year.

SGI figures released yesterday show that 102 were killed in 2017 the lowest number of traffic fatalities in more than six decades.

Joe Hargrave, the minister responsible for SGI, said that the improvement is a start but well short of what they'd like to see.

"It's something we have to fix, we've got to get better and better," he said during a media scrum. "The numbers a great, it's a great start, but 102 people. I don't know who's family members, I mean if it was my family or your family or neighbours or friends, it's still way too many people."

Although the numbers aren't in yet on deaths caused by impaired or distracted driving, Hargrave believes the reduced amount of fatalities could be because of SGI's safety awareness campaigns.

"Those awareness campaigns, people are paying attention," he stated. "People are asking those questions before they go out before they make those bad decision... A lot more organizations that are holding functions are thinking about it, they're arranging for rides for people. That campaign is out there, people are starting to listen, people are starting to care more and we're just looking for that to increase."

The last time the province recorded fewer deaths in a year was in 1954 when 74 people were killed, during that year there was one-third the of the cars registered in the province as they're today.

According to SGI, the numbers seem to fluctuate year-to-year with figures hitting an all-time high in 1974 with 306 deaths, but have numbers have recently been declining.