What’s the most dangerous time to drive in Saskatoon?

Watch above: Saskatoon traffic safety plan aims to reduce collisions

SASKATOON – Nine years of data has been complied into the City of Saskatoon’s traffic safety action plan which was presented Monday at a transportation meeting.

The report brings to light interesting statistics including the most dangerous time of day to be on the road.

In Saskatoon, motorists are most likely to be involved in a collision on Friday between 3 and 6 p.m.

December and January are the most dangerous months and men are almost twice as likely to be at the wheel during a collision.

“From an infrastructure perspective being able to better focus on the road network we will be able to achieve the reduction we’re seeking,” said Angela Gardiner, the city’s transportation director.

Once implemented, the city will be in charge of engineering improvements. The goal is a 10 per cent reduction in collisions that result in injury or death by 2019.

Saskatoon police will look after enforcement and Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) will take care of education.

“We have a severe traffic safety problem here in Saskatchewan and we’re excited Saskatoon has taken their own initiative to develop a traffic safety plan,” said Kwei Quaye, with SGI’s traffic safety services.

The University of Saskatchewan’s college of engineering compiled nearly a decade of collision history to come up with the numbers, which called fatal collisions in Saskatoon ‘extremely rare’.

Ward 5 city councillor Randy Donauer feels this statement misses the mark.

“What I’m hearing from the residents is that they’re concerned about a traffic accident that is going to happen,” said Donauer.

Donauer sites Whiteswan Drive and Assiniboine Drive as residential roads where tragedy looms with kids crossing the streets.

“I’m not talking about changing the speed limit, what we’re trying to do is get people to honour the speed limit,” said Donauer.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I'm not talking about changing the speed limit, what we're trying to do is get people to honour the speed limit," said Donauer.

The city says residential streets will not be forgotten although Monday’s reports relates more to high-traffic roads.

According to data, over half of collisions involve young drivers whereas 12 per cent involve older motorists.

Distracted driving was the cause of 39 per cent of collisions and impaired driving was a factor in four per cent of crashes.

The report will be presented for approval at the next council meeting on Sept. 29.