Today marks the beginning of the National Road Safety Week – an annual awareness campaign to promote safe driving practices and increase public compliance with safe driving measures in order to save lives and reduce injuries on Canada's roads.
Each year in Canada, about 2000 people are killed and 165,000 are injured while using our road system. The associated direct and indirect costs to Canadian society is estimated to be in excess of $30 billion in addition to pain and suffering by all of us who are affected.
Additionally, more than 90% of all road crashes are the result of human error or condition, which includes impaired driving (by alcohol, drug or both) distracted driving, aggressive driving and fatigue-impaired driving.
This year's campaign theme is about "Shifting Gears". NT RCMP are encouraging NT residents to "think differently" about problematic driving behaviours. This is an occasion to recognized and acknowledged bad habits that drivers may not be aware they have developed, and to change these behaviours.
Throughout the week and leading to the May long weekend, NT RCMP police officers will be on our roads, enforcing the NWT Motor Vehicle Act and promoting safe driving habits. Drivers can expect to see an increased presence of traffic related enforcement on our roadways.
"While there are many people on our roadways who are confident in their driving abilities and make all the right choices – it is the uncertainty of what is coming towards you, with drivers making poor driving decisions or risking others' safety, that causes the greatest anxiety for most road users" states Cpl. Sam Munden, NCO i/c of NT RCMP Traffic Services.
NT RCMP want you to enjoy our roads safely. If you witness dangerous or suspected impaired driving, please call your local detachment -1111 number, or 911 if urgent. Let's all work together to keep our roads safe.