(KINCARDINE, ON.) – All 165 Ontario Provincial Police detachments, including South Bruce detachment, are taking part in the annual Canada Road Safety Week campaign aimed at making our roads the safest in the world.
This year’s campaign runs from 12:01 a.m. on May 18 to 11:59 p.m. on May 24.
“The goal of Canada Road Safety Week is to increase public compliance with safe driving measures and, ultimately, to save lives,†OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino said. “We will be targeting aggressive drivers, those who drink and drive and those who don’t buckle up. We will also be watching for motorists who don’t slow down and, where possible, move over when passing an emergency vehicle is parked on the shoulder of the road with its emergency lights flashing.â€
Last year in Ontario, 322 people were killed in crashes on roads patrolled by the OPP. Transport Canada statistics for 2006, the last full year available, indicate that 2,889 people were killed in collisions across the country and another 15,281 were seriously injured.
To date in 2010, there has been 1 person killed and 55 more injured in collisions because they weren’t wearing a seatbelt. Seatbelts save lives, if you’re not buckled up, what’s holding you back?
“For many years, the OPP, along with police agencies across the country have collaborated to raise the awareness regarding issues of public safety on our roads,†South Bruce OPP Detachment Commander Inspector Bill Klym said. “We also use this campaign to demonstrate our commitment to public safety and community wellness.â€
Canada Road Safety Week supports Canada’s Road Safety Vision 2010, a plan to make Canada’s roads the safest in the world by 2010.