The last little while has been a bit of an adjustment period for Moose Jaw drivers and residents across the province as we received our first taste of winter. 

With people potentially traveling over the next few days SGI is sending out a few reminders to hopefully avoid a harmful or risky situation on roadways. 

#SKcheckstop - Municipal police forces across Saskatchewan will be running checkstops this weekend.  We encourage drivers to be patient as they pass through them. Police will be watching out for drivers who are impaired, distracted, not wearing seatbelts, and/or speeding.  Oh, and don’t forget this month’s traffic safety spotlight on suspended drivers and unregistered vehicles.

Speaking of checkstops, drive sober - If you’re impaired by alcohol or drugs, don’t drive. Call a cab or designated driving service, take a bus, text a sober friend, or stay the night. There’s no excuse for driving impaired. 

Hello again, Old Man Winter – Winter driving season has arrived.  Sure, it happens every year, but there’s usually an annual learning curve. Weather conditions can change quickly and without warning, so make sure you’re prepared before heading out on the highway. When on the road, we encourage everyone to take it a bit slower. Give yourself and other motorists plenty of room, and to slowly and safely ease yourself into winter driving.  Always have an emergency kit stocked and packed in your vehicle. Click here for more winter driving tips and find out what you should have in your kit.

Be in the know – The Saskatchewan Highway Hotline is the best place to get the most up-to-date road conditions for the province. Always check the Hotline before heading out, and if travel is not recommended, make other plans. 

Focus on driving – Winter driving is complicated enough without distractions. Along with being extremely dangerous, distracted driving is extremely expensive: a $280 ticket and 4 points off your Safe Driver Recognition rating. Put the phone away and drive. If you’re driving long distances, make sure you take regular breaks to avoid fatigue.

Give wildlife a brake – Our friends at Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation remind us that we are in the midst of breeding season (a.k.a. “the rut”) for deer and moose, and both species are more mobile as they search for mates in new territories.  Stay alert, scan the road from shoulder to shoulder, and watch your speed in areas where warning signs indicate areas of high risk.

Buckle up – Did you know there are still people who don’t wear their seatbelts? Hard to believe, right? If you’re riding in a vehicle, you need to wear a seatbelt. And make sure any kids in the car are in an appropriate car or booster seat. Did you know drivers will get a separate $175 ticket for each unrestrained passenger under 16 years old?

Earlier this week the Moose Jaw Police Service also took to social media to spread the message of using caution while driving with snow and ice building up on the roads. 

Click here, to find current conditions with the Highway Hotline.