Always drive with care, attention and reasonable consideration for other road users. It's illegal for you, or any of your passengers, to perform stunts or other activities that distract, startle or interfere with other road users.
Over the past 5 years in Saskatchewan (2019 – 2023), on average there were 3,480 collisions every year due to distracted driving resulting in 754 injuries and 15 deaths.
Driving requires you to do more than two things at once - steering, braking, shifting gears and watching for traffic all occur at the same time. When you add distractions like eating, grooming, talking or texting on cellphones, the results can be disastrous. Drivers should devote their full attention to driving.
Some of the most common driver distractions include persons, objects or events outside the vehicle, distraction from passengers, looking for or at something in the vehicle, adjusting radio, climate or vehicle controls, smoking and eating or drinking.
You also shouldn't distract other road users — deliberately creating loud and unnecessary noise with a motor vehicle is not permitted.
Cellphones
Holding, viewing or manipulating a hand-held cellphone or mobile device is prohibited in Saskatchewan. Experienced drivers, who are no longer in the GDL, can use hands-free cellphones if they're activated with voice commands or one-touch, and are dashboard, visor or cradle mounted.
Note: Hands-free cellphone or mobile devices are prohibited for drivers in the GDL program.
Hands-free use of cellphones while driving is allowed for experienced drivers1, including:
- devices that clip to the visor
- headsets, either wired or wireless
- voice-activated devices
- devices built into the vehicle, such as OnStar or those with Bluetooth technology
- Bluetooth ear pieces
- one-touch activation of a speakerphone feature on a cellphone placed within easy reach
- making 9-1-1 calls on cellphones while driving for both new and experienced drivers
- making a call on a cellphone when parked on the side of the road, for both new and experienced drivers
If you have a previous conviction (within a 12-month period) for using electronic communication devices while driving, or driving without reasonable care or consideration, and receive another ticket for either of these offences, it will result in the vehicle you're driving to be impounded for seven days, regardless of who the vehicle owner is.
Footnotes
- Experienced drivers are drivers who are not in the GDL program. ↩