Saskatchewan traffic blitz to focus on intersections, where 40% of collisions occur

Saskatchewan law enforcement will be conducting a safety blitz around the province’s intersections Wednesday and Thursday this week.

More than 40% of the province’s collisions take place at intersections, according to Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI). Last year, there were more than 11,000 collisions at intersections across Saskatchewan, resulting in 33 deaths and 4,000 injuries.

During the blitz, law enforcement will be on the lookout for motorists or pedestrians violating traffic laws at intersections, such as failing to yield to pedestrians or oncoming traffic, disobeying stops signs or traffic lights, or jaywalking.

The last “Operation Crossroads” blitz took place in February and resulted in a total of 422 tickets. July’s province-wide blitz, Operation Heads Up, Buckle Up, focused on pedestrian safety and seatbelt use and resulted in a total of 304 tickets.

A Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) event will also take place in Regina in conjunction with Operation Crossroads. STEP is an SGI-sponsored, multi-police agency traffic safety enforcement event.

SGI is the province’s auto insurance fund, which operates 21 claims centres and five salvage centres across Saskatchewan, with a head office in Regina.