Sask. Highway Hotline digital platforms get record-high 60 million visits in 1 year

The Saskatchewan Highway Hotline's digital platforms got record traffic over the last year.

From April 2024 to March 2025, the road information service's app and website got a combined 60 million page views, compared to 13 million in the same period the year before.

The surge is largely attributed to difficult driving conditions and storms. The Highway Hotline web page and app were checked more than 10 million times in November, more than 13 million times in December, and more than 14 million times in January 2025.

Brad Crassweller, MLA for White City-Qu'Appelle, lauded the numbers at a news conference Friday.

"I think 60 million hits is incredible," Crassweller said. "We've got so many people concerned about taking safety seriously."

RCMP Staff Sgt. Jason Sauve spoke as well, noting his extensive personal use of the platform.

"During the winter, with the RCMP, we send out safety messaging pretty much every time there is a significant weather event, and this winter we did that an awful lot," Sauve said. "Between April and September, there were 830 collisions involving snow, ice or visibility restrictions."

With the May long weekend coming up next week, Sauve encouraged drivers to check Highway Hotline for other factors that can affect road conditions, such as wildfire smoke, construction and collisions.

Highway Minister David Marit made a statement in a news release about the record Friday.

"Thank you to all drivers who take the time to check the Highway Hotline to make an informed decision before heading out on the road," he said. "Understanding what may be on the road ahead can help you plan safer and more efficient trips, which supports our quality of life and export-based economy."

Beyond the map denoting road hazards, the platform also contains more than 50 camera locations across the province, as well as a "Track My Plow" feature which allows drivers to check which roads have been cleared.