Ontario Police Chiefs Launch Drive Safe! Campaign With Focus on Railway and Road Safety

TORONTO, May 16, 2013 /CNW/ - Ontario's police leaders were joined today with government and corporate supporters for the launch of the 2013 Drive Safe! R.I.D.E. traffic safety campaign at historic Union Station in Toronto. This province-wide public education campaign will focus on rail and road safety issues.

"Railways continue to play an important role in the life of our communities. Rail is a vital component of our economy. It continues to be an efficient mover of both people and freight. Ensuring the safe movement of goods and passengers as well as protecting drivers and pedestrians around railway lines and crossings is extremely important. That's why the OACP is focusing on rail and road safety during our 2013 Drive Safe! campaign" said OACP President Chief Steve Tanner (Halton Regional Police Service).

There have already been 13 accidents during 2013 in Ontario related to railways and railway crossings, resulting in three deaths and one case of serious injury. According to A/Superintendent Gord Jones (Toronto Police Service), Co-Chair of the OACP Traffic Committee, serious injuries and deaths from train-vehicle collisions continue to occur all too often.

"Vehicle driver error is the main contributor to train-vehicle collisions. That's why throughout this year, Ontario police services will be interacting with the public at R.I.D.E. stops and during various traffic-safety events to raise public awareness of rail and road safety" said A/Superintendent Jones.

The campaign will feature a new public information booklet with information on rail and road safety as well as pedestrian safety, drinking and driving, traffic collision reporting, protecting consumers from fraud when purchasing a vehicle, and Ontario's "pullover" laws. 

This OACP campaign is made possible through the support of a number of partners: VIA Rail Canada, Roy Speed & Ross/Globali.com, Canadian Tire, Smart Serve Ontario, Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council, Accident Support Services International Ltd., Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club, the Government of Ontario, Liquor Control Board of Ontario, Trillium Automobile Dealers Association, Canpar, Canadian Energy Pipeline Association, Labatt Brewing Company, and Alcohol Countermeasures Systems.

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SOURCE: Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police

Joe Couto
Director of Government Relations & Communications

T. [phone] ext. 22
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