Ottawa – The Gatineau Police Service and Ottawa Police Service’s Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) will focus on school zone safety and vehicle occupant restraints during the month of September.
School Zone Safety
Between 2008 and 2012, there were 35 collisions involving school buses or in school zones resulting in seven injuries.
Vehicle Occupant Restraints (includes child car seats)
Between 2008 and 2012, there were 209 collisions involving the non-use of seat belts or a child safety seat used incorrectly. These collisions resulted in 219 injuries and 22 fatalities.
The Safer Roads Ottawa Program is a leading community partnership between Ottawa Fire Services, Ottawa Paramedic Service, Ottawa Police Service, Ottawa Public Health and the Public Works Department committed to preventing or eliminating road deaths and serious injuries for all people in the City of Ottawa, through culture change, community engagement, and development of a sustainable safe transportation environment.
Also participating in the Safer Roads Ottawa Program are the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Sureté du Québec, Department of National Defence’s Military Police and Gatineau Police Service to improve road safety for all residents of the national capital region.
Ottawa residents have identified traffic safety as a top priority. The Safer Roads Ottawa Program is committed to using available resources to make Ottawa roads safer for residents.