How slow is too slow on Circle Drive?

As winter hits Saskatoon, many commuters are driving well below the speed limit on Circle Drive.

But when a driver is going slower than the posted limit on the city’s busiest freeway, they should be cautious that they aren’t impeding traffic flow, which can result in a ticket under the Traffic Safety Act. According to the Saskatoon Police Service, speed limits are set for ideal driving conditions, and snow and ice can create safety hazards which justify slowing down.

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“Driver safety can be affected by loss of traction, reduced visibility and the actions of other drivers,” the police service explained in a statement.

Officers regularly see drivers going too fast for conditions, but the police service also noted that going too slowly “can impede the flow of traffic and create a safety hazard.”

650 CKOM asked how slow a driver would need to be going in order to pick up a ticket, but the police service said the answer depends on a number of factors.

“There is no specific ‘speed’ or ‘too slow’ per se,” a police spokesperson explained. “The officer considers many factors including weather conditions, road conditions, traffic flow, etc., when assessing whether or not to lay this charge.”

The police service noted that such charges are uncommon, but officers have written nine tickets so far in 2024 for drivers going at a speed that impedes the normal flow of traffic. According to police, the “voluntary payment” for such a ticket is $125.

The specific wording of the act states: “No person shall drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed that impedes the normal and reasonable movement of traffic on the highway except when necessary for the safe operation of the vehicle.”