SGI’s slow to 60 event highlights importance of road safety, featuring extrication simulations and more

On June 4, 2024, police officers and fire fighters from the Prince Albert area, tow truck operators from across Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency and members of the public came together at SGI’s Prince Albert Salvage Centre to reinforce the need to slow to 60 km/h when passing first responders on the highway.

The event and its important message were championed by Boni Ehmann, Manager of SGI Rural Salvage.

“SGI Salvage employees see the impact of highway collisions every day,” said Ehmann. “Hosting the ‘Slow to 60’ event gave us an opportunity to show our support for first responders and give the public a look at the work they do at the roadside to keep us all safe.”

Several demonstrations were held to educate attendees and change their behaviour by simulating real situations that first responders deal with daily. Community members saw demonstrations of a vehicle rollover to show the importance of seatbelt use, as well as an airbag deployment and a vehicle extrication by the Prince Albert Fire Department.

Vehicle extrication takes time and focus from fire fighters as they work to deconstruct the vehicle from around the occupants following a collision. If drivers slow to 60 km/h, crews can focus on the task at hand rather than vehicles passing them at highway speed.

Brad Stratychuk, past president of the Roadside Responders Association of Saskatchewan, said there are still too many drivers who don’t realize the trouble they cause when they don’t slow down, but things are getting better.

“It’s hard for people to imagine what that’s like being on the side of the road working, whether you’re in the fire department or an ambulance driver or highways worker or a tow truck driver,” Stratychuk added.

In 2023, there were 135 collisions involving ambulances, police or fire vehicles. Of those, 104 were just property damage and 31 were injury collisions.

“We need to slow down, move over, and be aware that people working on the side of the road have families to go home to as well,” Ehmann said.