Distraction & Inattention Among Top Factors in Intersection Collisions
Daydreaming about your summer vacation plans while stuck in traffic? Quickly replying to a text while stopped at a red light?* While it can be easy to let your mind and focus drift elsewhere when driving a familiar route, it’s important to keep your attention on the road – especially when it comes to intersections.
Driver distraction and inattention were consistently among the top five contributing factors in intersection collisions on Saskatchewan roads over the past five years.** As part of the August Traffic Safety Spotlight, SGI and law enforcement are reminding drivers to pay close attention on roadways – a timely reminder after the month of June saw the highest number of distracted driving offences reported in a single month all year.
On average, 29% of fatalities and 60% of injuries on Saskatchewan roads happened in intersection collisions over the past five years.** Be a defensive driver, and follow these practices:
- Look both ways before entering any intersection.
- Anticipate the traffic light changing to avoid running through an amber or red light.
- Don’t depend on other drivers to signal or execute their turns correctly.
- Never pass another vehicle in or while approaching an intersection.
- Use caution and yield the right of way to the vehicle on the right at uncontrolled intersections.
- Don’t follow too close, and keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you.
- Share the road and be attentive to pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and e-scooters. These vulnerable road users are at a higher risk of injury in a collision than people in passenger vehicles.
In addition, keep your thoughts on the task in front of you. Put your cellphone away, leave your take-out in the bag until you get home, and make sure any passengers know your focus needs to stay on getting everyone to their destination safely.
*Holding, viewing or manipulating a hand-held cellphone or mobile device while driving is prohibited in Saskatchewan.
**According to SGI’s most recent collision data for the years 2017-2021.
Source: SGI
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