As the summer winds down and children are preparing to head back to school, the Halton Regional Police Service are preparing for their Project Safe Start 2017. This project is a traffic campaign to remind drivers to watch for the flashing 40km/hr speed zones and be mindful when driving in or near school zones.
Project Safe Start 2017 will be the tenth year the Service has conducted this campaign, which focuses on education, awareness and high-visibility enforcement of traffic laws in and around school zones throughout Halton Region.
Regardless of who is right or wrong, when a vehicle collides with a pedestrian or cyclist, tragic consequences usually result
Project Safe Start 2017 is two weeks long and centred on the period in which children are returning to school. This year’s campaign will run between Monday, August 28 and Friday, September 8, 2017.
School zones should be safe zones. Officers are reminding motorists that over 100,000 students return to school in Halton Region on Tuesday, September 5, 2017. Motorists should be on heightened alert for increased pedestrian and vehicular traffic in and around school zones.
Driving safely is your priority!
Drive at a safe speed. Aggressive driving such as speeding, tailgating and failing to comply with road signs increase the likelihood of a collision. Aggressive driving reduces your reaction time and makes your vehicle movements unpredictable to other drivers.
Be aware of your surroundings when driving. There are three types of distraction: taking your eyes off the road, taking your hands off the wheel and taking your mind off driving.
All children deserve to attend school – safely
Distracted Driving: Rules around Mobile Devises
Holding your cellular phone in your hands is an offence, regardless of whether you are talking on it, using the navigation system or changing a song. This is still applicable when stopped at a red light. Did you know that texting while driving increases the risk of a collision by 23 times?
Drive responsibly. Drug and alcohol impaired driving can result in serious injury or death to you, your loved ones and other road users. Impairment slows your ability to react to changing road conditions. Drinking before driving and any form of drug use will affect your ability to drive.
Halton residents have ranked traffic concerns as their #1 policing priority. The Halton Regional Police Service recognizes this concern and engages in various campaigns throughout the year in an effort to educate the public and enforce the Highway Traffic Act and other traffic related legislation.
“Safe Start is our annual back to school traffic safety project in Halton. All motorists within Halton Region have a role to play in traffic safety, especially as children return to class at one of the over 160 educational facilities in the Region. Children are our most vulnerable road users. Regardless of who is right or wrong, when a vehicle collides with a pedestrian or cyclist, tragic consequences usually result. Motorists are encouraged to slow down, drive sober and avoid using your cell phone at all times when driving. All children deserve to attend school – safely,” stated Sergeant Ryan Snow, Traffic Services Unit.
Pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and police all play an integral role in ensuring safer roads within the Halton Region. We ask that everyone do their part in making school zones a safe place to be.