SGI says number of traffic fatalities dropped in 2019

Saskatchewan recorded the fewest traffic fatalities in 2019 than in any of the previous 70 years.

On Monday, SGI said its preliminary numbers indicated 71 people were killed in collisions last year. The previous record was 73 in 1951.

“This number makes it clear that many Saskatchewan people have decided that it is no longer acceptable for this province to hold a different record, and one that we held not that many years ago, where we had the highest number of road fatalities in Canada,” Minister Responsible for SGI Joe Hargrave said in a media release.

“I want to thank all Saskatchewan residents who are working to make our roads safer, and I’d like to particularly acknowledge the work by law enforcement, media, and families affected by distracted or impaired driving.

“However, collisions are preventable and even one traffic death is too many. We can’t celebrate when people are still being killed and injured on our roads.”

According to SGI, the province averaged nearly 140 fatalities per year over the previous 10 years (2009-18).

There were 129 people killed on Saskatchewan roads in 2018. SGI said more enforcement, tougher legislation and better driving habits may have led to the decrease in 2019.

“When people make the decision to drive safely, it literally saves lives,” SGI President and CEO Andrew Cartmell said in the release. “If you are one of the drivers who still chooses to take risks like texting while you’re driving, driving when you’re impaired or driving at unsafe speeds, you are now in the minority.

“We ask you change your habits and become part of making this the province with the safest roads in Canada.”

More to come.