We are dedicated to delivering police services, in partnership with our community,
to keep the City of Toronto the best and safest place to be. Visit our Web site at http://www.TorontoPolice.on.ca/ .
CANADA ROAD SAFETY WEEK - MAY 17 - 24, 2004
Canada Road Safety Week is an enforcement driven initiative designed to increase public compliance with safe driving measures and ultimately, to save lives. The focus will be on behaviours that put drivers, passengers and all other road users most at risk: impaired driving, seat belt use, inattention at intersections and unsafe speeds.
This week has been strategically chosen, as it includes the first “summer” long weekend. This is a time of year where traditionally more people are travelling and traffic collisions are more frequent.
A large majority of the fatal collisions are preventable. In 2003, seventy-four persons lost their lives on Toronto’s roads. Ten of the seventy-four fatals (14%) were alcohol related. Forty-two percent involved pedestrians and 25% of fatals involving drivers/passengers showed they were not buckled up!
In addition to the enforcement campaign, Toronto Police will be involved in two educational and awareness campaigns that will be launched that same week. On Wednesday, May 19, 2004 Toronto Police, Sunnybrook Hospital and EMS will introduce a campaign to reduce aggressive behaviour and ensure a safe “May 24” weekend. On Friday, May 21, 2004 the “Drive Safe” campaign will release an informative booklet that will provide Ontario drivers safe driving tips. Information on these two additional campaigns will be released in the near future.
All media inquiries for Canada Road Safety week should be directed to Constable Stephen Burns at 416-808-1919.
