Ontario Provincial Police supports Canada Road Safety Week

AURORA, ON, May 11, 2012 /CNW/ - Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) detachments across the province are making preparations to support the annual Canada Road Safety Week campaign - Road Safety Strategy 2015, the goal of which is to make Canada's roads the safest in the world.

Canada Road Safety Week focuses on increasing public compliance with safe driving through enforcement action.  The goal is to save lives and reduce injuries on Canada's highways by targeting the major causes of road deaths and injuries, specifically, aggressive driving, impaired driving, distracted driving and failing to be properly restrained.

The campaign begins on May 14 and will be carried out over the Victoria Day long weekend before coming to an end on May 21, 2012.

"The OPP fully supports this national road safety campaign which targets aggressive driving behaviours and restraint non-compliance," said OPP Commissioner Chris Lewis.  "The goal of this campaign is in keeping with our own Provincial Traffic Safety Program which aims to reduce injuries and deaths on our highways through education and aggressive enforcement action," added Lewis.

Deputy Commissioner Larry Beechey, Provincial Commander of Traffic Safety and Operational Support said, "As a strategy partner in this national road safety campaign, the OPP has a major role in reaching our goal of making Ontario's roads the safest in Canada in support of the Road Safety Strategy 2015 plan.  This is why the OPP will be out in full force during the campaign, enforcing all road safety laws in an effort to build on our past successes of reducing injuries and deaths on OPP-patrolled roads and highways," added Beechey.

"Since 1996, the OPP along with police agencies across the country have collaborated to raise awareness regarding issues of public safety on our roads," stated Chief Superintendent Don Bell, Commander of the OPP Highway Safety Division.  "The OPP will use this campaign to supplement our Provincial Traffic Safety Program and demonstrate our commitment to public safety and community wellness."

OPP Regional Contacts

Highway Safety Division:  
Sergeant Dave Woodford   
Phone: [phone]

Central Region:  
Sergeant Peter Leon             
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:   
Sergeant Dave Rektor  
Phone: [phone]