About traffic safety
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Overview
The RCMP is responsible for providing traffic services in eight provinces and three territories (excluding Quebec and Ontario), including a traffic section based in Ottawa that is responsible for the federal roadways in the National Capital Region (NCR).
Each of the RCMP contract policing provinces and territories has a Divisional Traffic Coordinator, who is responsible for the Division's traffic services program. They ensure each program works to reduce motor vehicle crashes, and to motivate citizens of the community to voluntarily comply with traffic regulations.
Traffic Services Sections are stationed at various strategic locations throughout RCMP areas of jurisdiction. The location and placement of the traffic officers is based on strategic needs illustrated by traffic flow and density, collision frequency and vehicle populations.
Motor vehicle collisions that result in property damage, personal injuries and fatalities are often the result of traffic violations.
This is why it is also important for Traffic Services to encourage motorists to drive safely, following all applicable traffic regulations.
Operation Impact
Operation Impact is a special initiative to focus on safe driving practices and is timed in conjunction with Canada's Thanksgiving holiday weekend, when the traveling public will be out in great numbers. It is a co-ordinated effort between police agencies across the country to work toward the goal of Road Safety Strategy 2025 - making Canada's roads the safest in the world.
It is a time to remind drivers and passengers across Canada to consciously consider safety whenever they get behind the wheel. Buckle seat belts and ensure youngsters are properly restrained in vehicles according to their age and size. Refrain from drinking and driving. Pay attention to the road at all times and refrain from aggressive driving and distracted driving behaviour.
Operation Impact was originally a one-day campaign aimed at increasing seat belt use across the country. It has evolved to target other high-risk activities like impaired driving and intersection safety. Operation Impact is now a 4-day event starting on the Friday of the Thanksgiving weekend and ending on the Monday evening.
What issues are most important in Operation Impact?
- don't drive impaired - ever
- use seatbelts and child restraints every time you travel in a car, no matter how short the trip
- pay attention at all times, refrain from the use of mobile hand held devices and/or aggressive or high-risk driving behaviours which may lead to a collision
- these issues are important every day of the year, not just during this special initiative
Wearing your seat belt
The single most effective way to save a life or prevent serious injuries is to ensure all vehicle occupants wear seat belts.
While most people in Canada do wear their seat belts, the individuals who do not wear seat belts significantly contribute to the total number of traffic fatalities. The 10% of non-compliant vehicle occupants (that is, those who do not wear seat belts) make up 40% of total traffic fatalities. Make the life saving connection, buckle-up.
Impaired driving
The most devastating problem on our highways today is the impaired driver.
In a national survey conducted by Transport Canada, it was determined that 3% of nighttime drivers were impaired between late night and early morning hours, Thursday through Sunday.
Coroner’s reports illustrate that these offenders account for 33% of traffic fatalities among drivers every year.
To ensure motor vehicle collisions are thoroughly investigated, the RCMP employs specially trained collision investigators, analysts and reconstructionists. These RCMP or university-trained police officers provide an in-depth analysis and reconstruction of major traffic collisions. These reports are an integral part of the analysis of the cause behind crashes.
The RCMP is dedicated to improving public safety on the roadways it polices and encourages motorists to illustrate a similar commitment. When motorists follow safe driving practices, the risks of death and injury, to themselves and others, become reduced.
Drug Recognition Experts
Impaired driving investigations are technically complex and can involve both drugs and/or alcohol.
The RCMP and other police agencies across Canada conduct enforcement of drug impaired driving using Drug Recognition Experts (DRE).
The Drug Evaluation and Classification Program (DEC) was founded in Los Angeles in the 1970s. At that time, peace officers were routinely arresting drivers that showed gross signs of impairment but who were not under the influence of alcohol. The LAPD used Standardized Field Sobriety tests in conjunction with accepted medical knowledge to devise a step-by-step procedure to enable them to determine drug influence. When a person is suspected of drug use, they are evaluated based on seven drug categories (central nervous system (CNS) depressants, inhalants, dissociative anaesthetics, cannabis, CNS stimulants, hallucinogens and narcotic analgesics). During the evaluation the DRE must also determine if the person may be suffering from another condition which may cause signs of impairment (illness, fatigue, mental condition, etc.).
The DRE program was introduced in British Columbia in October 1995 with the first national course being delivered in January 2003. The program received legislative support in July 2008 when changes to the Criminal Code came into force making the drug evaluation compulsory by way of a demand. The legislation calls for drivers to submit to standardized field sobriety tests (psycho-physical coordination tests) which are performed on the roadside. If there is evidence of impairment, the driver must accompany the officer to the police station for further evaluation of drug influence by an officer trained in the DRE program.
The DRE program is governed by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and is primarily used in Canada and the United States. There are currently more than 8000 DREs worldwide.
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