NEWS RELEASE
YORK REGIONAL POLICE
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York Regional Police will be actively participating in the nationwide Operation Impact road safety initiative that will be taking place from Friday, Oct. 8 to Monday, Oct. 11, 2021.
This year’s theme for Operation Impact is Be a hero. Aim for zero. Most collisions are not accidents, but the direct result of a conscious decision an individual driver has made. If drivers made better choices, such as not to speed or be distracted, there would be zero collisions, zero injuries and zero deaths on our roads.
Motor vehicle collisions kill 2,000 Canadians every year. Approximately 165,000 people are hurt in collisions each year, 10,000 of them seriously.
As part of Operation Impact, York Regional Police will be targeting four preventable offences that contribute the most to death and serious injury on Canadian roadways: Seatbelt infractions, distracted, aggressive and impaired driving.
Motorists are encouraged to enjoy this weekend’s celebrations, but to do so responsibly. If you drink or use drugs, don’t drive.
Residents are also encouraged to call 911 if they see a driver they suspect is impaired as part of our Safe Roads, Your Call program.
With increased traffic on our roadways during the long weekend, drivers are reminded not to speed or drive aggressively and to give themselves extra time to reach their destination. There is a direct relationship between speed and the level of injury in motor vehicle collisions and drivers need to slow down. York Regional Police will stop and ticket those drivers who put others at risk by speeding or operating their motor vehicles without due care and control.
Distracted driving refers to all forms of inattention, including eating, drinking, watching television, texting, talking on a phone or searching for something in the car while driving. Keep your attention on the roadway.
Seat-belts have been proven to save lives. Drivers and passengers should get in the habit of putting on their seatbelt immediately when getting into a motor vehicle. York Regional Police will charge drivers and occupants of vehicles who do not buckle up. Drivers are responsible for ensuring all occupants in their vehicle are wearing their seat-belts. Increasing seat-belt use will reduce the number of injuries and deaths each year on our roadways.
For more information, contact the York Regional Police Road Safety Bureau at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7703.
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