Throughout the Thanksgiving long weekend, Operation Impact will be underway. Throughout the weekend, RCMP across Canada will be setting up check spots to ensure that Canada’s roads are safe. Constable Mike Hibbs says that this weekend they will be out in full force with check spots looking for driving impairment, speeding and seat belt safety.
The RCMP have launched their “Walk Smart, Drive Smart” campaign which will go throughout the month of October. They are hoping to make October an accident free month. Last October in Alberta, there were 17 pedestrian collisions, including one fatality and 14 injuries. Constable Hibbs reminds pedestrians and drivers that it is both of their responsibility to ensure the roads are safe.
Constable Hibbs gave some tips for pedestrians and drivers to keep in mind this month. He says “we are encouraging people who are using crosswalks for our walk smart campaign that you use marked crosswalks and lit crosswalks and you make eye contact with the driver.” He also encourages pedestrians to wear bright colours, because we lose our daylight hours earlier during this time of year.
For drivers, he encourages them to be mindful of their surroundings in school zones and heavy traffic areas where there are more crosswalks.
-LG
