OPP PARTICIPATES IN 2010 NATIONAL ROAD SAFETY WEEK CAMPAIGN

Making Canada’s Roads the Safest in the World

MIDLAND, ON – All 165 Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) detachments across the province are making preparations to fully participate in the annual Canada Road Safety Week which gets underway from May 18 through to May 24.

This National road safety campaign is in partnership with police services and other road safety partners from across Canada and supports Transport Canada’s “Canada Road Safety Vision 2010” which has the goal of making our nation’s roads the safest in the world.

Chief Superintendent Mike Armstrong, Regional Commander of Central Region has stated “Canada Road Safety Week aims to make our roads the safest in the world by increasing public compliance with safe driving measures and ultimately to save lives “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 or move over safely where possible when passing an emergency vehicle parked on the shoulder of the road with its emergency lights flashing.”

Provincial Constable David Hobson Community Services Officer for Southern Georgian Bay OPP Detachment states that for many years our detachment, along with police agencies from across the country, has participated in Canada Road Safety Week. Our increased presence will help raise awareness regarding issues of public safety on our roads,” “We also use this campaign to demonstrate our commitment to public safety and community wellness in the Southern Georgian Bay area.”

In 2009, there were 59 people killed on Central Region patrolled roads, which sadly is an increase of 8 from 2008. In 2008, there were 1783 personal injuries crashes and in 2009, this number increased to 2080.

In 2010, 6 people have lost their lives due to traffic fatalities with Central Region and during the recent Spring Seatbelt Campaign, 188,441 seatbelt and child safety seat related checks were conducted and 1157 seatbelt related charges were laid.

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.