By TERRY PUGH
The City of Warman is asking the RCMP to crack down on speeding drivers.
Warman City Councillors voted unanimously at their July 20 meeting to formally request police initiate targeted speed enforcement within city limits effective immediately.
They also voted to direct city administration to prepare a report for the upcoming September 21 city council committee of the whole meeting outlining the potential cost of traffic calming measures for Crystal Springs Drive, including raised crosswalks, speed cushions, narrowing and signage.
Council’s concern stems from a documented increase in the number of drivers exceeding the posted speed limit on Crystal Springs Drive and other busy arterial streets in residential neighbourhoods.
According to data collected through a radar sign on Crystal Springs Drive between January 1 and May 26, 2026, one-third of all vehicles travelling northbound on that street exceeded the 40 kilometer per hour speed limit.
While most of those speeding vehicles were recorded at between 40 to 50 kilometers per hour, there were some that clocked out at over 65 kilometers per hour – at a time of year when roadways are often icy and visibility is restricted by blowing snow.
That represents a serious safety hazard for pedestrians, particularly children, according to Warman City Councillor Marshall Seed.
“The hard data from the radar sign clearly shows we have an issue with speeding on Crystal Springs Drive,” said Seed. “It shows that a vehicle exceeds the speed limit every three and a half minutes, on average.”
The radar sign recorded a total of 173,942 northbound vehicles passing by the sign over the 140-day period. Of those, 57,165 vehicles – one in three – exceeded the posted 40 kilometer per hour speed limit. The information was contained in a report from city administration to the July 13 city council meeting.
Seed proposed a motion to have RCMP target traffic enforcement specifically on Crystal Springs Drive, noting council can cite hard data, rather than subjective anecdotes, as a reason for the increased police focus in that specific area.
However, that motion was defeated. Another motion requesting enforcement across the entire city was then passed.
Warman Mayor Gary Philipchuk said he was in support of increased enforcement, and pointed out that other major streets such as Clubhouse Boulevard are also known to be problem areas. He added that the city also needs to have discussions with the local RCMP detachment with regard to priority allocation of scarce officers.
Seed agreed that police resources are already stretched.
“I’m 100 per cent aware of the fact we don’t have enough RCMP capacity,” said Seed. “But we now have hard data to back up our request for targeted enforcement. There is an integrated police traffic unit based in Martensville that potentially provide some resources.
“The overall objective here is to push the ball forward.”
City Councillor Shaun Cripps noted that the incidence of speeding across the city generally increases during the summer months, and said more enforcement is needed.
City Councillor Chris Mason agreed the city needs to take steps to boost enforcement city-wide, and also supported the move to determine if traffic calming measures are needed.
City Councillor Richard Beck also voted in favour of the motion for increased enforcement. He added the city needs to plan a strategy to deal with speeding ahead of budget deliberations this fall.