TORONTO – The Ontario Provincial Police are once again asking motorists to be careful on the roads over the long Victoria Day weekend.
The OPP is reminding the public that they won’t be tolerating any unsafe driving habits and that the OPP plane will be taking to the skies to assist with patrols looking for aggressive and speeding drivers.
“Traffic enforcement reduces injuries and save lives and that’s what we intend to do,” said OPP Commissioner Chris Lewis. “We know that the increase in traffic during the Victoria Day weekend also increases the risks for serious injury or death on our highways, trails and waterways.”
While patrols are stepped up, drivers should know that OPP officers will also be targeting aggressive driving, impaired driving, seatbelt compliance and distracted driving.
“Ontario continues to have one of the best road safety records in the world,” said Minister of Transportation Bob Chiarelli. “On this busy holiday weekend I want to remind all Ontarians to drive safe and obey the rules of the road so that you reach your destination safely.”
Below are some important tips to remember every time you get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle:
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Pay Attention to the Road
•Distracted drivers are a safety risk! It is illegal in Ontario for drivers to use any handheld communication and entertainment devices (not exclusive to cell phones) while operating a motor vehicle. We have seen a decrease in the number of persons using handheld devices, but we are concerned about the large number of drivers who continue to engage in this dangerous activity.
Buckle Up – Seatbelts Save Lives
•All Ontario drivers and passengers must wear a seatbelt in a properly adjusted and securely fastened manner. It’s the law. Making sure your children are also secure in a properly installed child restraint is equally as important. Wearing a seatbelt properly will dramatically increase your chance of surviving a motor vehicle collision.
Obeying the Speed Limits
•Speed continues to be the number one cause of motor vehicle fatalities in Ontario. Slowing down, and obeying the posted speed limit, will reduce the number of fatal crashes and serious injury collisions. Are you doing your part?
Slow Down or Move Over
•Drivers must remember when passing an emergency vehicle stopped with its emergency lights activated in the same direction of travel, either in a lane or on the shoulder of a road or highway, to slow down and pass with caution. If the road has two or more lanes, you must move over into another lane, if it can be done safely.
Don’t Drink and Drive
•Impaired driving continues to be among the leading criminal causes of death inCanada. The OPP conducts R.I.D.E. spot checks throughout the year to remove the threat of the impaired driver. Do your part by not drinking and driving.
The OPP has also launched a new video about distracted driving in an effort to influence current attitudes and perceptions among motorists, especially young drivers, about this dangerous but common practice.
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