THUNDER BAY -- Provincial police are hoping people enjoy themselves in a safe manner this May long weekend.
An increased amount of traffic and camping trips will result in an increased police presence.
“We know this is a busy weekend, and we try to deploy our resources to cover all areas as best we can,” said OPP Traffic Staff Sgt. Chris Lawrence on Friday.
The holiday weekend coincides with the OPP’s Road Safety Week, an initiative focused on enforcement and education.
“It surrounds the four major causal factors for fatalities,” Lawrence said. “Inattentive, aggressive, and impaired driving, and failure to wear seatbelts… We’ll be looking at those things this weekend.”
People of Thunder Bay and the municipalities of Shuniah, Dryden, Kenora and Red Lake will have to comply with the region-wide fire ban, which is currently in effect until further notice by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
Lawrence is urging campers to be aware of the ban, even from the moment they leave.
“We’re encouraging motorists to be careful about things like flicking cigarettes out the window,” he said. “Even though it’s cool outside, it’s very, very dry.”
Lastly, he’s calling for a responsible operation of boats in the area.
“We had three fatalities last year [on the water],” Lawrence said. “We really want people to have their personal flotation devices on them at all times, and operate in a responsible manners.”
