An independent five-member panel has been established to consult with the public about a graduated driver’s licence for new drivers in Saskatchewan.

Statistics compiled by SGI show inexperienced drivers in Saskatchewan are involved in far more accidents than experienced drivers. For all drivers regardless of age and experience, there are seven at-fault accidents per 100 drivers. The number rises to 14 at-fault accidents for newly licensed drivers over age 21, and to 24 at-fault accidents for newly licensed drivers aged 16 to 20.

“This is a serious public safety issue and something that concerns everyone in the province,” Crown Investments Corporation Minister Maynard Sonntag said. “Some other provinces have implemented a graduated driver’s licence, where new drivers work their way up to a full licence as they gain experience. We want to find out whether we should try that approach here.”

A graduated licence means a new driver who passes a road test would not automatically receive full driving privileges. There could be restrictions, such as needing to be accompanied by a fully licensed driver after midnight, or limiting the number of passengers in the new driver’s vehicle. It could take up to two years to gain full driving privileges.

“The panel will be looking at all of these things, as well as reviewing statistics from provinces that have graduated driver’s licence programs,” Sonntag said. “We hope people will participate by attending the panel’s public meetings, or contacting the panel to express their views on this important issue.”

Bill Martens, a driver educator at the Swift Current Comprehensive High School, will chair the Graduated Licence Review Panel. The other panel members are: Meghan Moormann of Goodsoil, a political studies student at the University of Saskatchewan; Dionne Pohler of Spalding, past provincial president of Students Against Drinking and Driving (SADD); Brenda Slimmon of Rosetown, an insurance broker and manager of the local Civic Centre; and Rod Stafford of Weyburn, a member of the Weyburn Police Service who has worked in law enforcement for more than 17 years.

The panel will present its report and recommendations to government in late May.

For more information about the Graduated Licence Review Panel, go to www.cicorp.sk.ca The panel can be reached at 400 - 2400 College Avenue, Regina, Saskatchewan, S4P 1C8, by toll-free telephone at 1-866-322-3070, or by email at gdlicence@cicorp.sk.ca

For more information, contact:

Karen Schmidt
Crown Investments Corporation
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-5889

Biographies of Panel Members

Bill Martens of Swift Current has been a driver educator for eight years and is currently working in that role at the Swift Current Comprehensive High School.

Martens has been an Instructor/Examiner for Class 1 licence at SIAST in Prince Albert, and is past president of the Saskatchewan Driver Educators Association. He is also a former member of Toastmasters, and past president of the Prairie West School band auxiliary.

Meghan Moormann is originally from Goodsoil. She is in her final year of studies at the University of Saskatchewan, and will convocate this spring with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Studies.

In the 2000-2001 school year, Moormann served an economics internship with Saskatchewan Economic and Co-operative Development in the department’s Saskatoon office. At the same time she was a Residence Assistant at Seager Wheeler Hall at the U of S.

Pohler was provincial president of Students Against Drinking and Driving (SADD) for the 1998-99 school year. From 1997 to 2000 she was a Saskatchewan Young Speaker, part of a group of students who travel to Saskatchewan high schools to talk about drinking and driving, and motivational topics such as self-esteem, leadership, and positive, healthy lifestyles. In 2001 she held a summer job as a member of SGI’s Safety Squad in Regina.

Pohler was vice-president of the Student Representative Council at Naicam School in 2000. She has received various merit awards for community leadership, in Naicam and with SADD. She is now a volunteer with Visitation House in Regina, a drop-in centre for women and children.

Brenda Slimmon of Rosetown is an insurance broker, a partner in a consulting company, and manager of the Rosetown & District Civic Centre.

Slimmon has completed the Canadian Accredited Insurance Broker I program and has her Level II Licence. She has 20 years of office management experience through her work in various educational and business settings. She is active in her community, and currently serves as conductor of the Rosetown and District Choir, and chair of the Herschel Mennonite Church.

Rod Stafford of Weyburn has worked in the law enforcement field for 17 and a half years. He is now serving with the Weyburn Police Service.

Stafford has served on the Provincial Traffic Committee and the Provincial Law Enforcement Handbook Committee. Over the years he has been involved with legislation review at both the provincial and municipal levels. He lectures at the Saskatchewan Police College and is a High School Resource Officer in Weyburn.