Traffic Unit

Traffic Safety Focus

Daily Radar Locations

Sept 8, 2010

The SPS Traffic Section, in partnership with the Saskatchewan Highway Transport Patrol, will be conducting vehicle inspections at various locations throughout Saskatoon from September 7th to 10th.

The inspections will focus on the safety and fitness of all types of vehicles from cars, trucks and motorcycles to power units and trailers. Safety and Fitness of a vehicle includes the condition of the lighting, brakes, steering components, tires, glass, and any equipment failures that may cause the vehicle to be unsafe for use as outlined in the Traffic Safety Act, The Highways and Transportation Act and the City of Saskatoon Traffic Bylaw.

Today enforcement and inspection teams will be stationed at 20th Street and Avenue L as well as Confederation Drive. There will also be enforcement of various school zones, specifically in the area of 33rd Street West and Valens as well as Clarence and 4th Street. There will be a continued focus on Circle Drive, specifically Circle at Taylor. Other areas of enforcement will include seat belt use, hand-held device use, and various other traffic related laws.

Results of yesterday’s enforcement activity includes:

Vehicles Inspected: 128
Warrant Arrests: 11
Speeding: 55
Seatbelt: 8
Unregistered Vehicles: 7
No Drivers License: 3
Prohibited Drivers: 4
Equipment Charges: 7
Traffic Safety Act Charges: 13

The Saskatoon Police Service Traffic Unit is committed to ensuring the safety of all Saskatoon residents and visitors to our city who share our roads, sidewalks, and bike trails. In addition to enforcement activity, the Traffic Unit also encompasses collision and hit and run investigations.

Our enforcement team uses selective techniques, as well as targeted traffic projects, and a variety of educational campaigns in order to maximize compliance with provincial and municipal driving legislation. Police officers are highly trained in the use of Radar and Laser speed detection technology, and are equipped with the latest tools of the trade to effectively perform their duties. They use a variety of vehicles, including motorcycles to patrol our streets.

Saskatoon Police Traffic officers regularly team up with outside agencies such as the Saskatchewan Highway Transport Patrol, Vehicle Equipment Compliance inspectors, University of Saskatchewan Campus Patrol, RCMP and other municipal police services for the purpose of safety campaigns. Operation Street Sweep, Multi Agency Seat belt Team (MAST), Operation Overdrive Sobriety Checkpoints and child seat safety clinics are but a few examples of this collaborative effort geared towards the creation of a safe roadway network.

For any questions or concerns related to traffic safety, please feel free to contact the Saskatoon Police Traffic Unit at (306) 975-8068.

Operation Overdrive

Operation Overdrive is a high profile program aimed at discouraging motorists from driving while impaired. Drinking and driving continues to be a problem in Saskatoon with injuries and death all too often being the end result. Operation Overdrive, funded in part by Saskatchewan Government Insurance, involves Saskatoon police officers conducting checkstops throughout the year.

When a motorist encounters an Operation Overdrive checkstop, he or she will be directed to a safe location at the side of the road where a police officer will ask them about alcohol consumption. In situations where the driver has consumed alcohol, a roadside breath test may be conducted. Depending on the result of the roadside test, the driver may have his or her driving privileges suspended for a period of time, or further blood-alcohol related breath tests may be conducted at a Saskatoon Police facility.

Penalties for driving while impaired can range from fines and driving suspensions to jail terms. Of course, these types of penalties pale when compared to having to go through life knowing you killed an innocent person due to your own drinking and driving.

Collision Investigation

The Traffic Unit is also responsible for the investigation of serious motor vehicle collisions and hit and run collisions. To this end, the unit uses a team of investigators specializing in both fields.

Hit and Run investigators are experts at matching up damage between vehicles. They work closely with the auto insurance industry to bring hit and run violators to justice.

The Collision Analyst Unit is made up of a group of highly trained officers who are responsible for investigating serious injury and fatal collisions. These officers receive ongoing first rate training in various disciplines including physics, math, photography, forensic mapping and 3-D animation. In addition to this training, some members of the team have received specialized training in the investigation of collisions involving motorcycles, pedestrians and commercial vehicles.

Commercial Vehicle Enforcement

As our city grows, so does the amount of heavy truck traffic. In order to ensure that the trucking industry is complying with safety and weight requirements, the Saskatoon Police Traffic Unit has members who are specially trained in the field of commercial vehicle inspection. The members are part of the North America wide Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) and regularly conduct safety campaigns at various locations in Saskatoon. These officers may also be called to collision scenes involving heavy trucks to conduct a safety audit.

Traffic safety concerns are a high priority for the Saskatoon Police Service, through an ongoing team approach, we are constantly striving to improve the quality of life and safety of all our citizens.

Vehicle Standards

Information related to vehicle standards, windshield damage, vehicle modifications and motorcycle equipment standards can be accessed through the Saskatchewan Government Insurance website at SGI Vehicle Standards.

Red Light Cameras

30-second video on red light cameras

Additional information about red light cameras can be accessed through the City of Saskatoon Red Light Cameras.