Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/407098
Write us: Speaker's Corner, Westworld Saskatchewan, 200 Albert Street N., Regina, SK S4R 5E2; email: caa.admin@caask.ca. Letters may be edited for clarity and brevity. 6 w e s t w o r l d | w i n t e r 2 0 1 4 Drivers need to remain alert and focused in all weather and road conditions. However, during our daily travels, our driving environment can quickly change due to sea- sonal weather conditions, speed limits, highway and road conditions, school zones, traffic congestion, dis- tracted driving and impaired driving. If drivers don't adjust their behind-the-wheel behaviour, the consequences can be dire. For example, according to SGI, there were 5,677 colli- sions on Saskatchewan roads in 2013 related to distracted driving, resulting in 31 deaths and 1,977 injuries. On the up side, though, new provincial traffic laws have addressed impaired driving, resulting in roadside suspensions and vehicle seizures, including for unauthorized drivers and high- risk driving. As Andrew Cartnell, president and CEO of SGI, says: "anks to new vehicle seizure laws, drivers who don't plan a safe ride home and choose to drive while impaired can now be removed from the road immediately, reducing the risk of a senseless collision and possible injury or death." CAA Saskatchewan supports SGI, the provincial govern- ment and law enforcement agencies in their efforts to endorse safe driving. As a dedicated advocate for traffic safety pro- grams and motorist/traveller safety (caask.ca/safety), CAA Saskatchewan also continues to address driver behaviour through public education and awareness. With winter here, let's remember to adjust our driving behaviour and stay safe by: checking weather and travel conditions before heading out; considering putting winter tires on our vehicle; travelling with a full tank of fuel; using the three-second rule to leave a safe distance between vehicles; and planning routes in advance and allowing extra time for travel. CAA strongly discourages the use of cellphones while driving but recom- mends that drivers carry a fully charged cellphone while on roadtrips for emergency calls. Remember that CAA Roadside Assistance is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year (see Automotive, pages 39-41, for our roadside assistance guide and three ways to access service). Winter vehicle inspections are available at the CAA Car Care Centres in Saskatoon and Regina or at any of CAA's Approved Auto Repair Services. Safe driving and take good care. W –Barry D. Martin, Regina Chair of the Board speaker's corner Adjusting Driver Behaviour