Watch above: new freeway attracts speeding motorists in Saskatoon
SASKATOON – With the opening of the Circle Drive south project in Saskatoon last summer, drivers can easily cruise to any destination as the “get there quick” corridor.
Some drivers are getting to their destination quicker by ignoring the posted speed limit of 90 km/h. Since the beginning of the year, police have handed out nearly 1,400 tickets.
Ten of those drivers were caught going more than 50 km/h over the speed limit.
A recent drive along Circle Drive by Global News over the noon-hour highlighted the number of speeders. With the cruise control set at 90 km/h, 37 drivers zoomed past our vehicle.
Police said it’s a problem that worsens in the summer and the high speed roadway is difficult to enforce.
“It’s a safety concern for our officers when they’re pulling vehicles over on Circle Drive,” said police spokesperson Alyson Edwards.
“Generally, they try to pull them over at an exit or in an area where the speed is reduced so they can get out of their vehicle.”
The area is patrolled daily by cruisers along with aircraft enforcement. A new enforcement tool will be added in August.
Six mounting posts will be installed along the Circle Drive loop with a photo radar camera rotating between the locations. Two of the locations will have the ability to capture travel in both directions.
Fines range from $70 to $140 with additional costs added for each kilometre over the speed limit plus a victim of crime surcharge. Drivers caught doing more than 50 km/h over the speed limit will have their vehicle seized for seven days.
NEED TO KNOW: What you need to know about Saskatchewan’s new traffic laws
SGI said the goal of photo radar isn’t to make money off the tickets, rather it’s to get motorists to slow down, one of the goals of the new traffic laws.
“People need to be following the rules of the road, and then you have nothing to worry about,” said SGI spokesperson Kelly Brinkworth.
“It’s to prevent collisions, it’s to prevent injury, it’s to prevent death,” added Edwards.
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