Tougher penalties and deeper discounts coming to SGI program

There are changes coming to SGI's Safe Driver Recognition program (SDR).

Late last year, the provincial government approved adjustments to the program that will result in bigger discounts and tougher penalties.

One of the key areas for change is an attempt to crack down on people who drive too fast.

"Speeding increases your risk of being in a collision," said Andrew Cartmell, President and CEO of SGI. "We see this play out time and time again in Saskatchewan."

Speed kills

SGI reports that in 2014, 30 people were killedand another 872 were injured in speed related crashes in the province. The hope is that toughening up the Safe Driver Recognition program will convince people to slow down.Drivers, in most cases, will now lose points for speeding convictions.

Other changes to the SDR:

• The safety rating scale will grow by one point a year for the next five years, from +20 to +25. Drivers with the safest records will earn higher discounts, reaching 25% when the scale reaches its maximum in 2020 (from the current 20%)
• Financial penalties will double from $25 to $50 per point in the penalty zone
• Drivers responsible for collisions will lose pointsfourpoints for claimsunder $700 and sixpoints for claimsof $700 or more

The changes to the program take effect on October 12, 2016.