Fewer people were killed on Saskatchewan roads in 2019 than any other year, according to SGI. In fact, last year's numbers are the lowest in decades.
Records began being kept in the 1950s. Preliminary statistics — which is based on data available from police forces and may need to be adjusted — indicated 71 people died in collisions last year.
Providing that number does not get adjusted, it will be the lowest total since 1951 when 73 deaths were reported. SGI points out that there were only about a quarter the number of registered vehicles on the road back then.
Between 2009 and 2018, the province averaged around 140 fatalities each year.
“This number makes it clear that many Saskatchewan people have decided that it is no longer acceptable for this province to hold a different record, and one that we held not that many years ago, where we had the highest number of road fatalities in Canada,” Minister Responsible for SGI Joe Hargrave said in a press release.
“I want to thank all Saskatchewan residents who are working to make our roads safer, and I’d like to particularly acknowledge the work by law enforcement, media, and families affected by distracted or impaired driving.
“However, collisions are preventable and even one traffic death is too many. We can’t celebrate when people are still being killed and injured on our roads.”
SGI previously reported back in August the number of fatalities and injuries caused by traffic collisions is decreasing in Saskatchewan.
