Police across Canada, including here in North Bay, are taking part in a national awareness campaign this Thanksgiving long weekend.
Operation Impact runs from Friday through Monday, with enforcement efforts focused on impaired, aggressive, and distracted driving, along with failing to wear a seat belt.
“Every time we get behind the wheel, we have a responsibility to make safe choices,” says Sgt. Greg McClenaghan. “Our job is to help prevent serious collisions, save lives and remind people about the risks of unsafe driving. This weekend, we’re asking everyone to slow down, stay focused, buckle up and never drive impaired.”
Police say data from Stats Canada shows 123,000 Criminal Code traffic offences last year, including more than 67,000 alcohol- and drug-impaired driving offences, while hundreds of collisions causing bodily harm were impaired-related.
They also say dangerous driving contributed to 139 fatal collisions last year.
Ontario Provincial Police say over the last 10 years, Thanksgiving weekends have had the second highest number of fatalities among all long weekends in the province.
They say last year alone, 13 people lost their lives in roadway collisions in OPP jurisdictions.
