Photo radar has arrived in Saskatchewan work zones

It’s one photo you don’t want to be in, and the Government of Saskatchewan doesn’t want to see you in.

Photo radar is now in place and operational in random highway work zones throughout the province, taking photos of vehicle license plates of drivers observed exceeding the speed limit of 60 kilometers per hour.

“Our only goal here is to motivate drivers to obey the law, which will ultimately make the work zone safer and potentially save the life of a worker or motorist,” Prince Albert-Carlton MLA and Chair of the Provincial Traffic Safety Committee Darryl Hickie said on behalf of Minister responsible for Highways and Infrastructure Don McMorris. “If we don’t collect one dime of revenue from photo enforcement, that’s a good thing - it means people are doing what they’re supposed to.”

Photo radar will be set up in random highway work zones throughout the province with locations changing periodically and as needed. This means photo enforcement could be set up in any work zone at any time. Where the automated speed equipment is present, photos will be taken of the license plates of vehicles driving faster than 60 kilometers per hour. Tickets will be mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle.

Previously, fines for speeding in the work zone started at $140 and increased by $2 to $4 for every kilometers per hour over the speed limit. Now, the base fine is $210 and will increase by $3 to $6 per kilometers per hour over the speed limit. Also included in the fine is a victim’s surcharge which increases in severity by speed. For a driver who speeds through a work zone at just 70 kilometers per hour, this would result in a total fine of $300. At 100 kilometers per hour, this would result in a total fine of $530.

ACS Public Sector Solutions was selected to provide photo enforcement through a competitive tender process and will be paid on a fee for service basis – not based on the number of tickets issued. The RCMP will verify and determine if there is enough evidence to issue a ticket in each instance.

Since the death of flag person Ashley Richards in August 2012, the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure, Ministry of Justice, Saskatchewan Government Insurance, RCMP, Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association and other partners have been working together to improve safety in work zones.

Measures that have been taken to clear up confusion and keep workers and drivers safe in work zones are based on the “three E’s” of traffic safety — education, engineering and enforcement.

In addition to photo radar, they include new black and white speed signs that make it clear to the driver exactly when to slow down, heavier fines for drivers who are caught speeding, rumble strips and gates to alert the driver they are entering a work zone, and increased enforcement by both the RCMP and provincial Highway Traffic Officers.

For more information on work zones and the implementation of photo speed enforcement, go to www.highways.gov.sk.ca/w orkzone.