The summer months mean barbecues, cottage country and sunny days, but for RCMP officers, the summer months mean they will be heading to more fatal collisions and notifying more families that their loved one will not be coming home. Instead of summer barbecues and trips to the lake, those families will be planning funerals.
In order to help Canadians get home safely, Manitoba RCMP participated in Canada Road Safety Week (May 13-19), which included the May long weekend. The RCMP conducted many checkstops throughout the province. Officers focused on high-risk driving behaviours, namely impaired driving, speeding, seatbelts and distracted driving.
As a result of the Canada Road Safety Week campaign, the RCMP issued the following:
- 39 Impaired Driving charges, including 5 Impaired by Drugs
- 25 alcohol-related administrative suspensions
- 39 charges for failing to wear seatbelts
- 555 charges for speeding
- 63 charges for failing to stop at an intersection
- 9 charges for using a handheld electronic device while driving
- 194 other traffic-related charges
- 22 prohibited/suspended drivers
There were four fatalities on Manitoba roadways during Canada Road Safety Week, three of which occurred on the long weekend. In all four incidents, the deceased were not wearing seatbelts.
During the 2013 campaign, RCMP reported:
- 43 Impaired Driving charges, including 3 Impaired by Drugs
- 16 alcohol-related administrative suspensions
- 68 charges for failing to wear seatbelts
- 746 charges for speeding
- 54 charges for failing to stop at an intersection
- 26 charges for using a handheld electronic device while driving
- 373 other traffic-related charges
- 21 prohibited/suspended drivers
Three fatalities occurred over Canada Road Safety Week in 2013.
Don’t be a statistic. Help the RCMP keep Canada’s roadways safe by making smart choices when you get behind the wheel.
