Working The Road To Save Lives

OPP are reminding motorists that they will be enforcing the rules of the road this coming May long weekend.

Officers on the road primarily to slow people down, but at the same time will have their eyes open for drivers who display any of the following characteristics while using Ontario roadways Aggressive driving, impaired driving, seat belts use, child safety restraint use and driver fatigue.

In 2005 from the Victoria Day weekend through to the Labour Day weekend, 18 people lost their lives in vehicle collisions, and another five lost their lives on the open water, three of the open water fatalities where people drowned because they did not wear life jackets.

Full details are contained in the release below.

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Aggressive driving, impaired drivers, seat belts, child safety restraints and driver fatigue are the focus of the OPP operational traffic enforcement plan for safer highway travel this summer.

The main enforcement objective this holiday weekend is to slow traffic down and officers will take a no nonsense approach to tailgating and other aggressive driving behaviour that tend to force other road users into dangerous situations. The higher the speed - the more severe the impact and even a small reduction in speed can make a big difference in a driver’s ability to avoid a collision.

In the North East Region last year, from the Victoria Day weekend through to the Labour Day weekend, eighteen (18) people were killed in traffic collisions and another five (5) lost their lives on the water. Three of the people who drowned were not wearing a PFD and alcohol was a factor in three of the five incidents.

North East Region Traffic & Marine will concentrate enforcement resources on both road and water. Resources have been assigned to Hwy 69, Hwy 11 and Hwy 17. Officers will be working schedules that provide increased visibility and strict enforcement for through highway traffic in the small towns.

Police will be concentrating on highway traffic patrols during the peak travel days of Friday and Monday and redirecting focus to waterway patrols Saturday and Sunday when boaters take to the water. The Victoria Day Weekend traffic and marine operational plan supports – Safe Boating Awareness Week May 20-26 and Canada Road Safety Week May 16-27.

The OPP remind travelers who after arriving at their destination often risk their safety by heading out onto the water without wearing a PFD (Personal Flotation Device) or without having the required safety equipment stowed onboard. The frigid waters of May still pose a danger to boaters.

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