Watch above: Saskatoon’s growth means more vehicles on the road and an increase in the number of speeding drivers. Amber Rockliffe finds out how the city plans to deal with the issue particularly in residential neighborhoods.
SASKATOON – City officials in Saskatoon say drivers speeding in suburban areas is becoming a problem.
“Over the past few years, the number of complaints that we’ve been receiving in residential areas about speeding vehicles has increased substantially,” said Angela Gardiner, the city’s transportation director.
The city is working with Saskatoon Police Service to implement the residential speed management program, which takes place over the course of six weeks.
“We’ve already identified more than 30 areas we’re going to be focusing on, but some of the few examples could be in Willowgrove on Stensrud Road, as well in Hampton Village on McClocklin, and Mount Royal neighbourhood on Avenue W,” Gardiner explained.
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The blitz, which begins in February, will also target roads in Sutherland, Willows, and Silverwood Heights. During the program, the city plans to add more speed boards, road signage and police enforcement.
“We enforce approximately 15 or 16 thousand violations for speeding in the City of Saskatoon each year, and what this partnership does is it gives us an evidence-based data collection,” said Insp. Mitch Yuzdepski with Saskatoon Police Service.
The city is also distributing a speeding blitz pamphlet to the public to outline safe driving speeds, and let people know how to report unsafe drivers.
“It’s not uncommon to see speeds over 60, 70 kilometres per hour on residential streets, which is a significant concern,” Gardiner explained.
The speed limit on city streets is 50 kilometres per hour, unless a sign indicates otherwise. Speeding tickets start at $120, and go up $10 for every ten kilometres over the limit.
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