SGI encouraging Sask. teens to start safe driving groups
SGI hopes that distributing safe driving resource kits will reduce collision rates among young drivers.
“We know youth play a critical role in influencing positive behaviour among their peers,” said SGI spokesperson Heather Anderson.
Young drivers are over represented in traffic statistics, says Anderson.
According to SGI data in 2020, drivers 19 and younger were involved in 16 per cent of all major injury collisions, causing 611 injuries and 15 deaths.
“We need to start targeting them now so that they can correct those habits and become better drivers as they continue throughout their driving career,” said Anderson.
She says the new strategy is meant to help teens establish good driving habits.
The insurance agency is sending out resource kits to high schools and youth groups across the province.
The kits contain USB memory drives with posters and information about how to start safe driving groups and how host safety events and courses.
Anderson says the kits are meant to “start a conversation about safe driving” among teens.
“I think they do enough to promote safe driving but not towards youth,” said Keestin Danielson, 16, about SGI.
Danielson completed the mandatory driver training prior to getting his driver’s license.
The Grade 10 student says he would join a peer-to-peer group if one was available.
“It could be helpful, but the hard part would be getting people to participate in the group,” said Danielson.
“If you have bad friends they will peer pressure you into stuff like that,” said Jacey Melnyk.
“I think those (SGI peer-to-peer initiatives) would influence people to drive safely.”
Topics covered in the SGI resource kits include distracted driving, speeding and impairment.
SGI says Saskatchewan teens are twice as likely as those of other ages to be injured due to impaired driving.
They’re also three-and-a-half times more likely than those of other ages to be injured due to speed-related crashes.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Trudeau promises $1B in loans for child-care providers to expand care centres
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Spring allergy season has begun. Where is it worse in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
N.B. man wins $64 million from Lotto 6/49
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.