New drivers in the province of Saskatchewan now have one more reason to develop safe driving habits with the introduction of an incentive for participants in the new Graduated Driver’s Licensing (GDL) program.
Cash prizes of $1,000 will be awarded to 10 new drivers randomly chosen from those who graduate without having an at-fault collision, traffic conviction or a suspension in the minimum allowable time (18 months).
“The GDL incentive is an excellent way to further encourage safe driving habits among our province’s new drivers,” Minister responsible for SGI Maynard
Sonntag said.
Graduated Driver’s Licensing is a program designed to improve road safety by exposing new drivers to incremental levels of risk as they gain more experience in the driving environment. New drivers, regardless of age, are provided with the support, skills, and experience they need as they work towards becoming fully qualified drivers.
There are three stages to Saskatchewan’s Graduated Driver’s Licensing Program: Learner, Novice 1, and Novice 2. As drivers pass through these stages, they will see fewer restrictions at each stage until they graduate to an experienced Class 5 driver’s licence.
The GDL program came into effect Sept. 1. The draw for the incentive will occur each year in September, and to be eligible, the new driver must have completed the GDL program Novice stages 1 and 2 in 18 months elapsed time, with no at-fault collisions or traffic convictions; hold a valid Saskatchewan driver’s licence at the time of the draw; and have a driving record that is free of at-fault collisions, traffic convictions, and suspensions at the time of the draw.
Drivers will be entered automatically upon successful completion of the GDL program. The cut- off date for the first draw is Aug. 31, 2006.
