OPP News Release
(Sioux Lookout, ON) The 2015 Canada Road Safety Week starts May 12 at and ends May 18. It is an enforcement-driven initiative designed to increase public compliance with safe driving measures and ultimately, to save lives. The enforcement component of the campaign targets impaired driving, lack of occupant restraint use, aggressive driving and distracted driving.
Sioux Lookout Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is committed to the safety of all motorists and pedestrians travelling our roadways.
As such officers will be out in both marked and unmarked vehicles in support of this initiative. The public is reminded that there is a direct correlation between increased police visibility, and reduced incidents of traffic fatalities.
Increased police enforcement is about saving lives. There is also zero-tolerance for drinking and driving (Impaired Operation of a Motor Vehicle,) as well as Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle. Penalties for this offence can include fines upward of $1,000 dollars, loss of driving privileges for a year, impoundment of the vehicle being driven at the time of the offence, and/or greatly increased insurance rates if convicted. Distracted Driving (texting, talking on one's cell phone etc.) is also a leading cause of death for many young people who die while in a motor vehicle.
Updated statistics regarding this initiative will be provided to the public once known.
The week includes an education campaign to address the importance of safe driver behavior in an effort to make ensure Canada's roads, and Sioux Lookout's in particular, are the safest in the world – and ensure road users, of all types, are aware that our efforts will continue long past this specific week.
Our message for the long weekend is to have fun, but be safe. Drive responsibly and arrive alive!
