It's something that police officers, paramedics, firefighters, and tow truck drivers see all too often, and that is drivers going over 60km/h when passing them on the side of the road.

From 2015 to 2017 SGI reported that over 3,000 drivers were caught exceeding the speed limit with many more getting away uncaught.

Tyler McMurchy, manager of media relations with SGI, said that the problem isn't just exclusive to Saskatchewan, but that doesn't make it less of an issue.

"I think it is very important to get the word out about the importance of sharing the road and giving our emergency service personnel the time and space to do their jobs when they are on the side of the highway," he said. "We depend on them to keep us safe, but what some people don't know is these workers need our help to keep them safe as well. That's why it's so important that if you see those flashing lights on the side of the highway, you need to slow down and move over because whoever it is, they are likely rendering assistance to someone else in need. That roadside is their workplace and we as motorists definitely need to do our part to keep them safe." 

During a fire earlier this month, Fire Chief with the Swift Current Rural Fire Department, Louis Cherpin, said that he noticed vehicles passing them going over the limit. 

"There were numerous vehicles large and small that really didn't slow down to that 60 kilometres," he said. "That's our worry, to us and to all fire departments that do fight fires along the highways or any emergency along the highways, whether it's towtrucks or EMS or police. It's a concern when they don't even leave the lane or slow down. We do caution everybody to take the time and slow down to 60. It is the law in Saskatchewan and we all want to get home safe after the event. It wasn't everybody, a lot of people did pull over, but we still do see some people not slowing down." 

It was also earlier this month that during a joint forces operation between Swift Current, Moose Jaw, and Regina Traffic Services that a total of 31 drivers were caught going over 60km/h while passing an emergency vehicle over a three-day period. 

McMurchy said if you are caught speeding, it is a significant 'chunk of change.' 

"If you are going 40 km/h over the limit as you're passing an emergency service worker whether it's a police, fire, ambulance, or tow truck, on the side of the road with their lights flashing, that ticket will cost you $570," he noted. "It's another great reason to slow down. The primary reason is to help keep those folks safe as you are speeding past the workplace." 

McMurchy added that slowing down isn't enough, if possible, to move over and give the emergency workers enough space to do their job. 

"I think anybody who has been on the side of the road in that capacity, a police officer, a fire truck, or firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, tow truck workers, they all have a near miss story or more than one where somebody brushed passed them travelling way too fast and way too close," he said. 

McMurchy added that slowing down to 60 makes it easier for both drivers and emergency workers.