REGINA, Sask. — During the week of June 20, Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure teamed up with the RCMP to educate the public on the importance of slowing down when passing emergency workers. ”We are pleased to partner with the RCMP to raise awareness about the importance of obeying speed laws and driving attentively when passing first responders,” Highways and Infrastructure Minister Nancy Heppner says. “First responders are working to keep us safe; we need to do our part to ensure their workplace is as safe as possible.” According to a June 17 statement from the Government of Saskatchewan, drivers in Saskatchewan are required to slow to 60 km/hr in both directions on two-lane highways and both lanes travelling the same direction on four-lane highways when passing vehicles with their lights activated. This includes emergency vehicles such as law-enforcement cars, fire trucks, ambulances, tow trucks and equipment from the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure and the municipal government. Last year, 478 speeders were ticketed during two traffic safety events. Fines start at $210 for speeding 10 km/hr faster than the maximum 60 km/hr. “Our goal is to prevent close calls and disastrous situations from happening,” said RCMP Southeast Combined Traffic Services Staff Sgt. Pete Garvey. “Partnering with the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure increases our visibility on Saskatchewan roads.” A second safety event will occur in mid-October, the statement noted.