ASSINIBOIA — Information from the Quarter 3 newsletter (Oct. to Dec. 2025), provided by the Assiniboia RCMP detachment, includes several reminders for residents as winter driving and seasonal risks increase.
The Assiniboia RCMP has released its quarterly newsletter, with this latest edition highlighting a number of important topics, including winter driving in Saskatchewan, which often presents added challenges.
The newsletter states, “Between rapidly changing weather and potential animal encounters, you never know what you’re in for when leaving the house. Here’s some tips for heading out on the road this winter:”
- Plan your route ahead of time and let family or friends know which route you plan to travel.
- Check the Saskatchewan Highway Hotline for up-to-date highway conditions. You can download the app — Saskatchewan Highway Hotline — or visit the website.
- Pack an emergency kit and keep it in your trunk all winter. Items to include are a warm blanket, non-perishable food, extra clothing (mitts, toques, ski pants, socks), a shovel and ice scraper, a first-aid kit, flashlight, portable charger and road flares. Before long trips, add a case of water.
- Give yourself extra time in case of bad weather. Just because it takes under two hours to get to Regina in the summer doesn’t mean it will take the same amount of time in winter.
- Drive the speed limit and according to highway conditions.
- Leave your phone in your purse and out of sight. Almost all cars are now Bluetooth-capable. No text is important enough to answer immediately. Consider using an auto-reply stating you are driving and will respond when able.
- Always wear your seat belt. Yes, wearing a seat belt over a big puffy jacket isn’t always comfortable, but if it’s that uncomfortable and you have a long trip ahead, remove your jacket once you get in the car.
- And lastly, always plan a safe ride home and drive sober. Whether heading home from a social event or a senior hockey game, if you plan on having adult beverages, make sure to line up a designated driver or have a place to stay.
As of Dec. 24, Saskatchewan RCMP had responded to 84 fatal collisions this year, with 21 of those occurring since Oct. 1. “It is every driver’s responsibility to keep our streets, roads and highways safe. Please do your part.”
Crash notifications
This winter issue of the newsletter also outlines crash notifications, stating, “Almost every person nowadays has either a smartphone or a smartwatch or both, but how familiar with your device are you really? Did you know most new phones and watches are fitted with crash detection? This feature uses sensors to detect severe impact and automatically alerts emergency services and contacts if it does not receive a response from you within a certain time frame (usually 20 seconds).”
While the feature can be helpful, it can also trigger false alarms through hard braking or drops. RCMP suggest familiarizing yourself with the option and deciding whether to keep it enabled, as it can be manually turned off in device settings.
“If you do chose to keep the notifications enabled and find yourself in a situation where you dropped your phone from a roof (we’ve had this call) or you forgot it on the tailgate of your truck and drove away (we’ve responded to this one too… a couple times) and you weren’t able to cancel the notification quickly enough, please call 310-RCMP (7267) or your local detachment during office hours to advise that you are safe, there is no need for emergency services and all is well. Trust us, we won’t be mad! We would much rather hear that everything is okay then to spend several hours trying to track you and your phone down (no joke, we’ve done that too).”
Reportable vs. non-reportable accidents
The Assiniboia RCMP also issued reminders about reportable and non-reportable collisions, noting winter is often the busiest season for collision calls. Police must be notified if:
- It is a hit-and-run situation
- There are injuries of any kind
- A vehicle is not driveable and requires towing
- A vehicle is registered outside Saskatchewan
- Drugs or alcohol are, or are believed to be, a factor.
If any of these apply, police must be notified and a file number will be provided.
You are not required to notify police if:
- Both parties are present and able to exchange information
- The vehicle is drivable
- No one is injured.
“If you ever find yourself in the situation where your vehicle has broken down or perhaps you hit some ice and end up in the ditch and you are leaving your vehicle where it stopped, it is not a bad idea to call your local Detachment to let them know. They can attend the site, wrap police tape around the vehicle and prevent future calls. You’d probably be surprised how many calls we can receive from these situations.”
Grandparent and emergency fraud calls
RCMP also continue to warn residents about ongoing grandparent or emergency-type fraud calls. While seniors are often targeted, anyone can fall victim.
If you receive one of these calls, RCMP advise:
Trust your gut. Ask yourself if the details seem off or the circumstances unusual.
Do not offer money or personal information until you confirm details with family. Hang up and call a known family number to verify the story.
Requests for payment via gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency or similar methods are strong indicators of fraud. Never provide your credit card number to a caller. Speak with your bank in person before making large withdrawals.
If you believe you or a loved one has been targeted, report it to your local detachment.
Value of Crime Stoppers
RCMP also reminded residents of the importance of Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers, a province-wide program that combines the efforts of the public, media and police to solve crime.
While high-profile crimes may appear on nightly news from Regina or Saskatoon, Crime Stoppers accepts tips from any community.
“The promise of anonymity is one of the major advantages to using the program. We understand that the disclosure of your identity may make individuals uncomfortable and stop people from reporting. By utilizing Crime Stoppers, you can be sure that every possible thing will be done to protect your identity. Since its inception in 1987, Crime Stoppers has become one of the most effective and successful examples of community-based policing.”
Tips can be submitted by:
Online: www.saskcrimestoppers.com
Phone: 1-800-222-8477
App: P3 Global Intel Tip Management Software, available through the Apple App Store and Google Play
Cash rewards of up to $2,000 may be paid if information leads to an arrest and solves a crime. Calls are not traced or recorded, and callers do not have to identify themselves. Tips provided may assist local detachments in reducing criminal activity.
