This week is Canada Road Safety Week, an annual campaign that focuses on reducing behaviours that put all road users at risk. The Nova Scotia RCMP will be reminding motorists about the importance of road safety throughout the week.
As part of Canada Road Safety Week that runs from May 18 to May 24, the RCMP in Nova Scotia will also be participating in National Impaired Driving Enforcement Day on May 22. Police are out 24/7 to protect motorists on our roadways and this week, citizens can expect to see an increase enforcement and checkpoints being conducted across the province.
"We all have a responsibility to keep our roads safe, whether you drive a car, motorcycle, bicycle or are a pedestrian," says Mike Carter with RCMP Traffic Services. "By paying attention to your surroundings and making good decision such as wearing your seatbelt, driving sober and slowing down, you are decreasing the chances of a serious collision."
In 2020, Nova Scotia RCMP responded to 75 fatal or serious injury collisions where impaired driving, distracted driving, aggressive driving or not wearing a seatbelt or wearing one incorrectly were contributing factors. In the same year, RCMP laid 14,343 charges in Nova Scotia for offences relating to these factors.
Canada Road Safety Week is led by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police's Traffic Safety Committee. It is designed to increase public compliance with safe driving measures in order to save lives and reduce injuries on our roads.
Nova Scotia RCMP will be sharing safety tips throughout Canada Road Safety Week. Follow along on Twitter at @RCMPNS (https://twitter.com/RCMPNS) and Facebook at Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Nova Scotia (https://www.facebook.com/rcmpns/).