Over 4,800 drivers in one province ticketed for this offence in September

Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) is launching a campaign against speeding this month, and to kick things off, the public auto insurance provider is taking a critical look at last month’s speeding statistics.

According to SGI’s Traffic Safety Spotlight for the month of September, police issued 4,887 tickets for various speeding offences. That number includes 195 tickets to drivers for speeding in school zones. Ten drivers in school zones were also ticketed $230 for failing to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks. This is all notable, as SGI had previously issued an advisory which warned drivers in Saskatchewan to uphold safe driving around school zones.

Read more: SGI advises drivers to obey speed rules in school zones

SGI offered a reminder that speeding tickets are costly; those who drive 20 km/h over the limit in a school zone will be issued a $310 ticket and three demerits.

Also in September, police reported 869 tickets for distracted driving, including 770 for using a mobile device. Some 399 impaired driving offences were also issued last month – including 247 Criminal Code violations – and another 435 tickets were issued for seatbelt and car seat offences.

“SGI and law enforcement are focusing on speeding in October,” the Crown corporation said in a release. “Obeying the posted speed limit allows drivers more reaction time when it comes to avoiding collisions with other drivers or pedestrians.”