Driver safety event rewards teens with positive tickets

Getting a ticket from a police officer is usually a negative experience, but the Prince Albert Police hope to change that with a special event for SGI’s Teen Driver Safety Week.

Tonight from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. the Prince Albert Police Service Traffic Unit and members of Prince Albert Mothers Against Drinking and Driving (MADD) will be set up in the parking lot of the Art Hauser Centre, where they will reward teens for good driving habits with a positive ticket and promotional items. The teens who receive positive tickets will also be entered into a prize draw.

“The week focuses on increasing teen driver safety awareness,” Sgt. Travis Willie, spokesperson for Prince Albert Police Service, said. “Things like putting cell phones away, driving sober, wearing seatbelts and not speeding.”

Willie said he hopes to see lots of teen drivers in attendance in order to create positive interactions between teen drivers and police in the community. All drivers aged 15 to 19 are invited to attend.

The positive ticketing event is organized by national injury-prevention organization Parachute Canada. Spokesperson Matt Aymar said the primary focus of Teen Driver Safety Week, which is in its fourth year, is distracted driving.

SIGA

SIGA and Northern Lights Casino main sponsors of the 31st PAGC Fine Arts Festival

10h ago

Workplace incident

City of Prince Albert pleads guilty to workplace safety violation, handed fines

12h ago

Lighting it up

P.A.'s Zablocki leads Regina to victory on Day 4 at Esso Cup

Apr 24, 2024

“About 19 per cent of teen driver fatal crashes are actually caused by distraction,” Aymar said. “We know that distraction is now starting to surpass both impaired driving and speeding, some of the other main causes when it comes to collisions.”

“It’s not a problem specific to teens, but it is certainly a rising problem among the teen driver demographic,” Aymar said.

SGI spokesperson Kelley Brinkworth said the numbers show the life-or-death importance of fostering safe habits for teenage drivers.

“In 2015 we have some preliminary numbers showing 13 teens were killed and 592 were injured in Saskatchewan when a teen driver was behind the wheel,” Brinkworth said. “So we do know that teen drivers have higher fatality, injury and collision rates than drivers in other age ranges.”

Brinkworth said events like these are important because they create positive associations for young drivers.

“A lot of times if you’re pulled over by police it’s because you’re doing something wrong,” Brinkworth said. “In the case of the positive ticketing, it’s because you’ve actually done something right. You’re exhibiting smart behaviours.”

“It’s a good reminder for teens that there are benefits to driving safe.”

Taylor.macpherson@jpbg.ca

@TMacPhersonNews