800+ driving charges laid in 1 week in northeastern Ontario

A police infographic representing the 'big four'; seatbelt use, distracted driving, impaired driving and speeding. (File photo/Ontario Provincial Police/Facebook)

Ontario Provincial Police in the North East region laid more than 800 charges driving during Canada Road Safety Week, a seven-day national campaign which ran from May 12 to 18.

The charges included 745 speeding offences, 31 impaired driving charges, 21 seatbelt violations and seven distracted driving citations.

“It’s clear some drivers are ignoring the message,” the Ontario Provincial Police said in a social media post summarizing the enforcement results.

The annual awareness campaign, led by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, is designed to increase public compliance with safe driving measures to save lives and reduce injuries on Canada’s roads.

“Your actions behind the wheel can have an impact on your life and the lives of others,” the OPP said.

Focus on high-risk behaviours

This year’s campaign theme is “Every Road, Every Day, Everyone.”

Police agencies across the country focused on eliminating impaired driving, distracted driving, aggressive driving and driving without a seatbelt.

“We need Canadians to acknowledge, accept, and take responsibility for road safety and their driving behaviours this week and every day of the year,” said Chief Superintendent André Phelps, co-chair of the CACP’s Traffic Safety Committee.

Collisions often within driver’s control

Insp. Chris Romanchych, fellow co-chair of the CACP’s Traffic Safety Committee, said the campaign is meant to be a friendly reminder that every driver has an impact on road safety when they take the wheel.

“Collisions are not accidents; they are generally situations within a driver’s control. Choose your driving behaviours wisely,” he said.

OPP echoed Romanchych’s sentiment, stating that dangerous driving behaviours are the leading causal factors of fatal collisions every year.

“Buckle up, slow down, drive sober and focus on the road,” OPP said.