pexels.com
As thousands of Ontarians take to the roads, waterways and trails to celebrate Canada Day, the Ontario Provincial Police indicate they will be in full force and are requesting the public make personal safety a priority.
“This is a very proactive campaign about what people can do to keep themselves safe,” said Derek Rogers, media relations coordinator for the OPP West Region. “Wear your seatbelt in the vehicle, wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle or ATV, and wear a life jacket on the water. These are lifesaving measures, and they do work.”
Canada Day long weekends are most likely to have increased travel, and accordingly, a higher risk of accidents and drunk driving. Rogers reported that while there are not necessarily more calls, more traffic on the road with added enforcement means more numbers particularly for such offenses as speeding and drunk driving.
“Definitely, impaired driving is a serious issue,” he said. “Many people believe RIDE programs only occur during the December holidays, but we conducted more than 1,500 RIDE checks in the West Region alone last year. The likelihood of encountering one over a long weekend is definitely higher.”
Motorbike safety is also a priority. Rogers described the hottest months as having more deaths to riders, usually due to visibility and awareness issues.
“We’d just like to remind drivers and motorcyclists both to look out for each other on the roads. Give the other guy space, and watch out,” he said. “You’re really unarmed on a motorcycle, so it makes sense to think about what you can do to travel the distance in safety.”
Photo Taken: (Evan Frederiksen – XFM News)
For families visiting fireworks, shows or cottage country, Rogers advises calling police if you observe someone driving rashly, or suspected of intoxicated driving.
“We’ve got our officers and our call centers available 24/7. If you see something dangerous, call star OPP or 1-888-310-1122. We answer those calls and they do lead to charges and they do save lives.”
