Starting today, the province increases the base fine for drivers caught speeding in an orange zone, from $140 to $210.

On top of that, it will cost $3 for every kilometer over 60 kilometres per hour and $6 for every kilometer over 90 kilometres per hour.

The government is encouraging drivers to slow down in orange zones whether workers are present or not, said Rosann Semchuk with the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure, but the law only requires drivers to slow down to 60 if workers are on site.

"The legislation states that you must slow to 60 when workers and equipment are present. So, it's very specific when workers are present," she said.

Saskatoon and Regina bylaws states otherwise. According to the Saskatoon Police Service and the Regina Police Service, both cities require drivers to slow down to the posted speed in construction zones whether workers are present or not.

The change in fines is a response to what Premier Brad Wall said he heard after the death of a young pregnant flag person, Ashley Richards, on Saskatchewan's roads in August.

Starting this fall, rumble strips and gates narrowing approaches to construction zones will be used to slow down traffic on major highway projects.

Richard’s boyfriend, Ben Diprose, spoke out last week about what the changes mean to him.

“It means quite a bit because I wouldn't want anybody else to go through the same thing I went through. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy," he told reporters after the throne speech.

Diprose held Richards in his arms as she lay dying on a highway near Midale. She was struck by an SUV while in the orange zone where the speed limit is supposed to be 60 kilometres per hour.

The driver, Keith Dunford of Regina, has been charged with criminal negligence causing death.

"Something had to be done about this, like, people can't just keep on driving through construction zones like they have been and disobeying the laws and killing people," Diprose said.

The RCMP even stepped up enforcement thanks to some extra money from the government.

-with files from News Talk Radio's Sarah Mills and Samantha Maciag