Sharing the Road: Provincial campaign urges caution
Quebec police services, in collaboration with the Société de l 'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ), will intensify their activities and outreach activities beginning today and until October 27 November 2, as part of a concerted national campaign to encourage road safety.
The campaign will take place under the theme ‘Respect for a Better Sharing of the Road’, and aims to emphasize the importance of respecting not only the laws in force, but also other road users, regardless of their mode transport.
The many interventions that police will carry out are intended to raise awareness among, on the one hand, drivers and their responsibility to show respect, courtesy and vigilance on the roads and on the other hand, among pedestrians and cyclists of the importance of safe behavior. “Everybody must live together in accordance with the rules,” a communiqué reads.
During the campaign, police will pay particular attention to respect of signaling at intersections. near school zones; and near hospitals and seniors' centers. October, pedestrian month
The months of October through December are those in which the most accidents involving a pedestrian are reported. Decreasing hours of daylight and driving not adapted to the weather and road conditions may partly explain the phenomenon. Therefore, pedestrians and cyclists must respect the signs and make sure they are visible at all times. Motorists must be more vigilant. Halloween
Several awareness-raising activities will be deployed to complement to the concerted national operation on Halloween evening. Vigilance will be required since children will storm the streets to take part in the traditional trick or treating, and this requires numerous trips and a safe cohabitation between drivers and pedestrians.
Police officers and road controllers will be present in residential areas to encourage young people to respect safety rules and remind drivers to be particularly careful on the streets. For more advice, citizens are invited to consult the website at saaq.gouv.qc.ca/halloween
Statistics
According to the SAAQ road safety report, 71 deaths among vulnerable users (pedestrians and cyclists) occurred in 2016 compared to 54 in 2015. Pedestrians and cyclists accounted for 20 per cent of all road deaths in Quebec in 2016 and 12 per cent of all road traffic fatalities.
Sharing the road, a shared responsibility Users on the road network have a shared responsibility. Drivers need to be extra cautious to ensure the safety of pedestrians and cyclists who are vulnerable and unprotected. As for pedestrians and cyclists, it is important that they also adopt safe behavior.
This national operation is organized within the framework of a partnership between the Association of Quebec Police Chiefs, the Sûreté du Québec, the Montreal police force, and the Société de l 'assurance automobile du Québec.