Police aim to make roads safer through Operation Impact

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Partners in Policing will once again be participating in Operation Impact, a national campaign aimed at raising public awareness about the dangers of engaging in risky and often illegal driving behaviours.

Operation Impact will take place over the Thanksgiving weekend (October 9-12), a time when many individuals and families travel on our roadways to visit loved ones. Members of the Integrated Traffic Unit, as well as well as patrol officers, will be focusing on education and enforcement of impaired driving and the proper use of seatbelts and car seats, as well as all aspects related to speed and distracted driving, which are the main causes of death and injury on Canadian roadways.

In the last year in Halifax, there were 9 deaths and a number of serious injuries related to vehicle collisions. “These are more than numbers; they represent people’s loved ones, co-workers and neighbours,” says Sgt. Steve Calder of the Integrated Traffic Unit. “These preventable deaths are unacceptable to Halifax Regional Police and Halifax District RCMP.” In support of this initiative, the Integrated Traffic Unit will set up checkpoints throughout the weekend targeting impaired, aggressive and distracted drivers, as well as checking for the proper use of seat belts and car seats.

Operation Impact is endorsed by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) and member agencies of the CACP Traffic Committee from across Canada in support of Canada’s Road Safety Strategy 2015.

In addition to Operation Impact, the Integrated Traffic Unit will focus on inattentive and distracted driving during the month of October. The Unit’s focus in September was back to school and school bus safety. During the month of September, police conducted 236 special checks. Officers issued 1,876 Summary Offence Tickets during the month for a range of Motor Vehicle Act violations, of which 140 were generated directly as a result of increased enforcement around schools.