By Charlene Tebbutt

Law enforcement agencies team up to promote traffic safety

Jul 6, 2018 | 8:00 AM

Officers from several different agencies were in Prince Albert Thursday to start a two-day traffic blitz in the city, looking for everything from impaired driving to improper child safety seats.

Police are out in various locations around Prince Albert again today as part of their Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP). The blitz includes officers from the Prince Albert City Police, Saskatoon police, RCMP, and the newly-minted Saskatchewan Highway Patrol, along with SGI, the Saskatchewan Health Authority, and the Ministries of Justice and Finance.

RCMP Cst. Richard Wittal, with the Prince Albert Regional Traffic Services Unit, said summer weather means more drivers out on the roads, and safety is key. Enforcement officers were out at the city’s south end Thursday, stopping drivers for speeding, cell phone use, or unbuckled seatbelts, but Whittal said even vehicle equipment infractions, such as improper window tinting, could be flagged during the blitz.

“Our reason for being out here is just awareness, and as well to target people who are not listening, who are not paying attention, who are not obeying the rules of the road,” Wittal told paNOW. “There’s increased traffic out on the highways, which makes it more dangerous for everyone.”

Yosef Siwy, Prince Albert district supervisor with Saskatchewan Highway Patrol, said the organization has a mandate to enforce commercial vehicle regulations and partnering on the STEP initiative was a great way to ensure transport trucks are meeting provincial regulations when out on Saskatchewan roads. Saskatchewan Highway Patrol officers were on the roads north of Prince Albert Thursday, working with mechanics and other officers to ensure semis and transport trucks were operating properly.

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As of July 1, officers with Saskatchewan Highway Patrol are able to handle more enforcement duties as part of the new Prevention and Response Team for rural crime enforcement. Siwy said highway patrol officers have been training for several months to prepare for their expanded roles, and are happy to partner with police and conservation officers to help monitor rural areas.

“When they can’t get there in a certain time limit, they’ll be calling us to assist,” Siwy said. “We can deal with anything on the highway and assist with impaired driving, drug enforcement, and then also with the rural crime on top of that.”

Jennie Knudsen, acquired brain injury health educator for the Saskatchewan Health Authority, said traffic safety initiatives provide an opportunity to teach parents and caregivers about the importance of properly restraining children in moving vehicles. Knudsen said it’s important for children of all ages to be properly restrained when in a vehicle.

“Kids come in all shapes, all sizes, and it’s not always easy to figure out what seat they should be in,” Knudsen added.

With the end of another work week approaching and nice weather in the forecast, Wittal also reminded drivers to slow down when heading to the lakes and cabins for the weekend.

“Everybody seems to believe that the lakes or the cottages or their cabins are not going to be there when they get there, and I can reassure you that everything’s still going to be there,” he said.

Charlene.tebbutt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @CharleneTebbutt