SGI gives tips to stay focused while driving for August Traffic Safety Spotlight

Even if you have plenty of things to think about, SGI is asking that drivers keep their minds on the road as they tackle distracted driving in their August Traffic Safety Spotlight.

SGI says that in their data gathered for 2017-2021, driver distraction and inattention were consistently among the top five contributing factors in intersection collisions on Saskatchewan roads.

SGI and law enforcement are reminding drivers to pay close attention on roadways, especially after the month of June saw the highest number of distracted driving offences reported in a single month all year.  

“Driving can often feel like a routine task, but it involves a lot of attention and focus,” said SGI President and CEO Penny McCune. “Navigating through intersections requires even more concentration because there’s often so much going on in multiple directions. Drivers need to make sure they’re ready to react quickly to whatever arises.” 

They also found that on average, 29% of fatalities and 60% of injuries on Saskatchewan roads happened in intersection collisions over the past five years. 

They ask those on the roads to be a defensive driver, and follow the following practices: 

·         Look both ways before entering any intersection. 

·         Anticipate the traffic light changing to avoid running through an amber or red light. 

·         Don’t depend on other drivers to signal or execute their turns correctly. 

·         Never pass another vehicle in or while approaching an intersection. 

·         Use caution and yield the right of way to the vehicle on the right at uncontrolled intersections.  

·         Don’t follow too close, and keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. 

·         Share the road and be attentive to pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, pedestrians, and e-scooters. These vulnerable road users are at a higher risk of injury in a collision than people in passenger vehicles. 

Another piece of advice includes keeping your thoughts on the task in front of you. Put your cellphone away, leave your take-out in the bag until you get home, and make sure any passengers know your focus needs to stay on getting everyone to their destination safely.