By Staff
August 29th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
It is that time of year again – the kids are back in school – excited to see their friends and not quite as safety minded as their parents would like to see.
What every driver dreads is the seeing a youth dash out in front of their car and, even thought they are driving below the limit they sense their may be contact.
The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) has prepared and is ready to launch their back to school safety program – Project Safe Start.
This will be the 15th year the HRPS has conducted this homegrown campaign, which focuses on education, awareness and high-visibility enforcement of traffic laws throughout Halton region. Project Safe Start 2022 will run between Monday, August 29 and Friday, September 9, 2022.
Every road user in Halton plays a critical role in road safety. Remember:
- When driving, everything else can wait. You are driving distracted if your eyes, hands and/or mind are not focused on the task of driving. Motorists are reminded that holding a 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.
- Drive at a safe speed. Always abide by posted speed limits, with special care in community safety zones with special speed limits. 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.
- Drive responsibly. Drug-impaired and alcohol-impaired driving can result in serious injury or death to you, your loved ones and other road users. Impairment from alcohol and other drugs slows your ability to react to changing road conditions.
The back-to-school season results in increased pedestrian and vehicular traffic across our region. As always, the HRPS is encouraging drivers to use heightened awareness and caution.
Halton residents have ranked traffic concerns as their #1 policing priority. Project Safe Start is just one of many campaigns the HRPS engages in throughout the year in an effort to educate the public and enforce the Highway Traffic Act and other traffic-related legislation.
Pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and police all play an integral role in ensuring safer roads within Halton region – we thank the community for doing their part.
