The Regina Police Service, in partnership with Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI), will embark on a program of local commercial vehicle inspections in the City of Regina, starting today.
The need for this project came out of the recent Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) held in Regina on September 19th and 20th. Results from the Regina STEP blitz included figures on the number of commercial vehicles inspected and, of those, the number of commercial vehicles taken out of service for safety reasons. Of the 42 commercial vehicle inspections carried out, more than half, or 22 vehicles, were taken out of service. These results demonstrate a clear need to ensure commercial vehicles are maintained in accordance with legislated requirements, with all documentation in order. Some locally-owned-and-operated commercial vehicles do business solely within the city limits, rarely travelling on Saskatchewan highways. Since the majority of commercial vehicle inspections occur on highways, rather than local roadways, it is possible a poorly-maintained commercial vehicle could operate, without drawing attention, until/unless a collision occurs. This is a significant concern for the safety of other users of our roadways.
Starting October 23rd, and at regular intervals over the next year, Regina Police Service members will team up with safety officers from Carrier and Vehicle Safety Services of SGI to do inspections of commercial vehicles within the city limits. The plan is for each Safety Officer to pair up with one Traffic Officer to patrol the Regina area, pulling over potentially unsafe commercial vehicles. An inspection will be conducted at this time and documented.
The purpose of this advisory is to inform the public of this upcoming enforcement program. It is part of our continued commitment to safety on our roadways. Any operator of a commercial vehicle (class of trucks over one ton, e.g., 3500 series) is encouraged to ensure all papers are in order with respect to his/her commercial vehicle and that said vehicle(s) is well-maintained, in accordance with legislated requirements.
The Regina Police Service and SGI commend all drivers who commit to safety on Saskatchewan roads, for all users of our roadways: motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians alike.
*Background:
STEP is a partnership between Law Enforcement agencies in Saskatchewan, as well as Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI). Through STEP, police services combine resources to take traffic enforcement and education to various Saskatchewan cities.
The Regina STEP, held September 19-20, 2017, included representatives from Saskatchewan Government Insurance, the municipal police services of Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert and Moose Jaw; Saskatchewan Commercial Vehicle Enforcement, Saskatchewan Justice, Ministry of Finance, Canadian National Police, University of Saskatchewan, and RCMP from across the province. The goal is improving road safety, with the ultimate goal of reducing injuries and fatalities on Saskatchewan roads. Police officers, along with SGI car seat technicians, and other specialists, as needed, performed traffic stop checks at various Regina locations, including near school zones and residential areas. The crews mainly focused on speeding, unregistered vehicles, car seats, illegal use of cell phones, and seat belt violations. Officers were also on the look-out for other offences, such as impaired drivers.
