Speeding violations decline in Saskatchewan, photo radar zones

Speeding violations sharply declined in Saskatchewan photo radar zones last month compared to December.

Here are the stats when comparing the number of violations per day between the months:

–33 per cent average decrease at high-speed locations
–64 per cent average decrease at school zone locations
–greatest decrease at a high-speed location was 64 per cent (at Highway 1 east)
–greatest decrease at a school zone location was 78 per cent (in Saskatoon)

“Photo speed enforcement has been proven to calm traffic and while it’s still early, we’re seeing a positive effect in Saskatchewan’s photo speed enforced locations after only two months of the pilot,” Minister responsible for SGI Don McMorris said in a release.

“We think it’s going to be effective but you can’t say the effectiveness in two months.”

The radar is being tested on Circle Drive in Saskatoon, Ring Road in Regina, and Highway 1 and 9th Avenue in Moose Jaw, along with select school zones in all three of those cities. In addition, radar is also set up on Highway 1 east between the Pilot Butte turnoff and White City, and on Highway 12 by Martensville.

Even though overall numbers are falling, there’s still a big discrepancy between Regina and Saskatoon regarding school zones. Where Saskatoon is seeing hundreds of speeding violations, Regina is seeing thousands.

“Sometimes it’s a function of where the cameras are and how the operations are,” responded McMorris on why he thinks there’s such a big difference between the two cities.

Speeding drivers are still receiving warnings for now. Tickets will start getting handed out on March 8. McMorris believes when fines are actually doled out speeding numbers will drop even more.

Agencies/Canadajournal