(File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Community Safety

48 Saskatchewan communities to benefit from photo radar fines

Jan 9, 2020 | 5:46 PM

The habits of some aggressive drivers in Saskatchewan will not entirely go to waste. The proceeds of photo speed enforcement (PSE) will be used to help pay for some local traffic safety upgrades.

The towns of Spiritwood and Big River will each receive a share of the $500,000. In the case of Big River, they are receiving a grant for $7,000 which will be used for some new speed display signs. Administrator Noreen Olsen explained the town, which is intersected by a provincial highway, currently has signs on both ends of town, but they wanted to do more to improve traffic safety within the town.

“We do have a lot of concerns and we have put up more signage in the last year around the school,” she said.

The Town of Spiritwood has been approved for a grant totalling $9,033.34. The money has been earmarked to be spent on crosswalk beacons and pedestrian signs. Mayor Gary Von Holwede said he appreciates the extra funds, noting the town had no immediate concerns related to drivers.

“We are just always being proactive, looking for some help in matters and the funding will make this happen,” he said.

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Also receiving money is the Rural Municipality of Spiritwood, which will receive over $33,000 to help pay for three new intersections.

(File photo/ paNOW Staff)

Provincial Traffic Safety Fund grants are awarded twice annually, and the applications are assessed against criteria focused on priority areas including intersection safety, aggressive driving, speeding and vulnerable road users.

“These projects will help calm traffic and make Saskatchewan roads safer,” Minister Responsible for SGI Joe Hargrave said in a statement. “I want to congratulate the successful applicants and express how pleased I am that so many communities are keeping traffic safety top of mind and have taken the initiative to make improvements to keep their citizens safe.”

The PSE Committee has started accepting applications for the next round of Traffic Safety Fund grants, as well as applications for new PSE camera locations.The deadline for both applications is March 30, 2020.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell