FIGHT TO SAVE LIVES GOES NATIONAL DURING OPERATION IMPACT

FROM/DE: Highway Safety Division

AURORA, ON, Oct 4 /CNW/ - The OPP is taking its campaign to reduce unnecessary carnage on Ontario highways national by teaming up with police services across the country on the Thanksgiving long weekend.

Operation Impact is a Canada-wide traffic initiative aimed at saving lives and reducing serious injuries on our roads by increasing public awareness and compliance with traffic safety laws. This national road safety initiative will begin Friday October 8 and run to Monday October 11, 2010.

The OPP will continue its focus on impaired driving; aggressive driving; and improper or no restraint use because these "big three" factors continue to be the leading causes of serious injuries and death in motor vehicle collisions. 

The other part of this national initiative includes an education campaign, where OPP officers will raise public's awareness to recent changes in traffic legislation, including distracted driving laws.

Frontline OPP officers will be out in force and highly visible on the Thanksgiving weekend adopting a zero tolerance level for any form of irresponsible driving.  OPP officers will be utilizing all available resources, including the OPP aircraft, to do their part to make Canada's roads and highways among the safest in the world.

QUICK FACTS:

• 243 people have lost their lives in motor vehicle collisions so far this year on OPP patrolled roadways, in comparison to 236 in 2009.
• 24 people have died in marine related incidents to date this year in OPP patrolled waterways as opposed to 30 in 2009.
• 12 people have died in off-road related crashes to date this year in OPP patrolled jurisdictions as opposed to 20 in 2009.
• 75 percent of people ejected from vehicles die seatbelts offer the best protection against ejection. 

QUOTES

"Drivers in Ontario have the privilege of travelling on some of the safest roads in North America. We have been able to achieve this by designing and building safer roads, tough laws and enforcement by police services, and the good driving habits of millions of Ontario drivers," says Transportation Minister, Kathleen Wynne. 

"The OPP is committed to our Provincial Traffic Safety Plan (PTSP) which focuses on educating drivers to permanently adopt safe driving practices.  A big part of that plan is a zero tolerance and targeted enforcement approach towards drivers who place others at risk through their bad driving behaviour," says OPP Commissioner Chris Lewis.

"Educating the public about safe driving practices is a priority," according to OPP Deputy Commissioner Larry Beechey.  "The deaths, pain and broken hearts that result from carelessness behind the wheel can be prevented and the OPP will continue to lead the way to educate the public through targeted enforcement and public education."

LEARN MORE

Operation Impact is sponsored by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) and Transport Canada and is part of Road Safety Vision 2010.  For more information go to:

www.opp.ca
www.mto.gov.on.ca
www.ccmta.ca/
www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/safedrivers/trafficsafety/index.htm

www.opp.ca

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For further information:

Contacts by OPP Region:

Highway Safety Division:	Sergeant Dave Woodford	Phone: [phone]
Central Region:	Sergeant Paulo DiFonte	Phone: [phone]
East Region:	Sergeant Kristine Rae	Phone: [phone]
Northeast Region:	Inspector Mark Andrews	Phone: [phone]
Northwest Region:	Sergeant Shelley Garr	Phone: [phone]
West Region:	Sgt Dave Rektor	Phone: [phone]