Members of the Nipissing West Detachment of the OPP have been concentrating on the Canada Road Safety Week since May 12,
This initiative continues until May 18, with a focus on increasing public awareness and compliance with traffic laws relating to the "Big Four" causal factors in motor vehicle collision fatalities.
The "Big Four" consists of alcohol/drug-impaired, inattentive driving, aggressive driving, and lack of occupant restraint. These high-risk behaviours account for the majority of motor vehicle collision fatalities.
The Victoria Day Long Weekend initiative runs parallel with the Canada Road Safety Week beginning today until May 18. Nipissing West OPP members will be raising awareness of motorcycle and Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) safety.
In 2019, the OPP in the North East Region (NER) investigated five motorcycle fatalities and two ORV fatalities.
- Safe, defensive driving is paramount to reducing the number of motorcycle fatalities and serious injuries on our roads and highways.
- Motorcyclists are more vulnerable than other drivers as they can be tougher to see than other vehicles and they lack characteristics that directly contribute to occupant safety, providing virtually no protection in a crash.
- Motorists, share the road with motorcycles - in almost half of all motorcycle collisions the motorist is at fault, not the motorcyclist.
- Over one-third of motorcycle collisions are intersection related.
- Motorcyclists should always ride at a speed appropriate for road and weather conditions as speeding and loss of control are major causes of motorcycle collisions.
OPP investigations into ORV collisions continue to show that alcohol consumption, lack of experience, high speed, lack of helmet use, and overall carelessness are major contributing factors in severe injuries or deaths associated with this outdoor activity.
In addition to these two initiatives, the Nipissing West OPP will also be focusing on Boat Safety Week starting tomorrow May 16 to May 22. In 2019, the OPP in NER investigated five boating fatalities.
Capsized vessels and falling overboard are the top contributing factors in boating deaths every year.
Alcohol/drug-impaired operation of a marine vessel is dangerous and carries the same penalties as impaired operation of a motor vehicle.
