RCMP have launched The Pas Traffic Services, a unit that will be comprised of four RCMP officers dedicated to traffic and criminal interception in The Pas and the surrounding communities. The Pas Traffic Services will be policing anything accessible by road in the North. The officers will focus on enforcement, education and prevention when it comes to impaired driving, seatbelts, speeding and intersection safety.
The North District sees an average of 13 people killed each year in traffic-related collisions, and approximately 45% of those collisions involve an impaired driver. In roughly half of northern road fatalities (not including pedestrian incidents and ATV collisions), the deceased is not wearing a seatbelt.
The Pas Detachment area sees 27% of the northern traffic fatalities, with more than half of those deaths occurring on Highway 10. By locating a traffic services unit directly in The Pas, the RCMP is addressing concerns very specific to the north.
“Road safety is a top priority for the RCMP,” said Inspector Joanne Keeping, Officer in Charge of Traffic Services for the RCMP in Manitoba. “We are excited to have a dedicated Traffic Services unit in that area to service all the northern communities accessible by road so that we can do our part to help everyone get home safely.”
Town of The Pas Mayor Jim Scott couldn’t be happier about today’s announcement. “As a community, we have been working diligently with the RCMP to bring this service here for quite some time. At the end of the day, it’s all about safer streets in safer communities, and I’m extremely pleased to see us reach towards that goal.”
Interdiction will also be a focus of The Pas Traffic Services. “Manitoba roadways are not an easy way to get drugs to the northern parts of the province,” said Insp. Keeping. “The bottom line is that those who traffic in illicit drugs destroy lives, homes and communities. The RCMP is there. Traffic Services and northern RCMP detachments work collectively conducting traffic stops and checking vehicles on northern roadways in an effort to stop the flow of these substances into communities.”
The Pas Traffic Services has been active on the roadways since April 1, 2015. There are three constables and one corporal in charge that make up the unit.
Please make smart choices when it comes to road safety. Drive sober, slow down, buckle up and keep focused on the road.
