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The Ontario Provincial Police is reminding motorists across the Upper Ottawa Valley and the rest of the province to make safe choices behind the wheel over the Thanksgiving long weekend.
UOV OPP officers will be taking part in Operation Impact, a four-day national traffic safety campaign led by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police. The initiative targets high-risk behaviours including impaired, aggressive and distracted driving, speeding and failing to wear seatbelts.
The OPP says Thanksgiving weekends have had the second-highest number of roadway fatalities among all long weekends in Ontario over the past decade. Last year, 13 people were killed in collisions in OPP jurisdictions.
Alcohol and drug impairment have been the leading factors in fatalities over the past 10 years, while failing to use safety equipment such as seatbelts, helmets and lifejackets has also contributed significantly.
UOV OPP officers will be highly visible throughout the detachment area, focusing on education and enforcement while encouraging motorists to eliminate distractions, obey speed limits, buckle up and drive sober.
Officers will also be patrolling trails and waterways, targeting unsafe behaviour and promoting safety.
The OPP is urging residents to make safety a priority this Thanksgiving weekend, so they can arrive at their destinations safely and enjoy the holiday with family and friends.
(Steve Berard)
