OPP joins police partners for Canada Road Safety Week (May 14-May 20)
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OPP are reporting that road fatalities are down ahead of their National Traffic Safety Campaign during Road Safety Week (May 14 – May 20).
Speed, alcohol and drugs, inattentive driving and lack of seatbelt use are attributed to almost half of the deaths. More than half the deaths last year were linked to these same factors.
“Canada Road Safety Week is an effective traffic enforcement initiative, however it is only part of the solution to saving lives. It is important that everyone take responsibility to ensure safety on our roads,” says Thomas Carrique, Commissioner of Ontario Provincial Police.
“Make a commitment to obey speed limits, wear your seat belt and never drive while impaired by alcohol or drugs, or while distracted.”
The OPP are relieved to see a significant decrease in preventable road fatalities, but warn that poor driving behaviours can easily tip the scales in the wrong direction.
Officers of the OPP will be highly visible during Canada Road Safety Week in their efforts to keep roads safe, though they are hoping that road users will achieve this goal on their own rather than through enforcement.
Last year, over half of the 332 deaths on OPP-patrolled roads were attributed to the previously-mentioned factors (alcohol/drugs, speeding, inattentive driving and lack of seatbelts).
“Driving is a privilege that requires your full attention when behind the wheel. It takes a conscious effort from all drivers to limit distractions to avoid potential injuries,” adds Sylvia Jones, Solicitor General.
“Violating the ‘rules of the road’ is a major cause of collisions so we all need to respect the law to ensure road safety. Make driving safely your number one priority.”
Canada Road Safety Week is an annual enforcement and education-driven initiative led by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police that aims to increase public compliance with safe driving and reduce injuries and save lives on our roads.
The campaign is part of the broader Canada’s Road Safety Strategy 2025, which aims to make Canada’s roads the safest in the world.
Source: Goderich Signal-Star