Road fatality statistics reinforce the rationale for Operation Impact

A TOTAL OF 1,507 people died in road deaths on OPP-patrolled roads between 2011 and 2015 and the vast majority of them were preventable, according to a five-year report just released by the Ontario Provincial Police.

Over the Thanksgiving long weekend, police across the province are rolling out the Operation Impact campaign, an annual traffic safety initiative during which Canadian police partners target the four main behaviours that continue to cost the significant loss of life on roads every year. These are road deaths in which alcohol/drugs, speed, inattentive driving and lack of seat belt use are factors.

“Tragically, most of these fatalities are directly linked to poor behaviours on the road and these are the ones that are preventable. Road safety is a collective effort. We need to see a complete shift in attitude on the part of drivers who do not take these risky behaviours seriously. Passengers also have a role to play by buckling up every single time and dissuading drivers who engage in these dangerous behaviours and jeopardize their safety, said OPP deputy commissioner Brad Blair in a release.

SEPTEMBER 29

2:30 AM | Perth County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers were dispatched to the TSC store along Hwy 8 east of Stratford because of an alarm activation. OPP officers assisted by Stratford Police located a male on the agricultural supply store property who was attempting to hide from police. A 48-year-old Stratford man was arrested and charged with “disguise with intent.” He is scheduled to appear at the Stratford Ontario Court of Justice on Oct. 31 to answer to the charge.

OCTOBER 1

1:25 AM | Two 18-year-olds, one from Mapleton Township and one from Wellington North, face drug charges after members of the Wellington County OPP investigated the occupants of a 2009 Dodge Journey that was travelling at a very slow rate of speed in Wellington North Township. When the officer approached the vehicle, a grinder containing marijuana was observed sitting on the centre console. The two occupants were placed under arrest and a search of the vehicle revealed additional drug paraphernalia, cocaine and marijuana. The occupants were charged with ‘possession of marijuana’ and ‘possession of cocaine.’ They are scheduled to appear in Guelph Criminal Court on Oct. 18 to answer to their charges.

10:30 AM | Members of the Wellington County OPP received a report of vandalism to the Knox Presbyterian Church located on Church Street in Elora, Centre Wellington Township. The investigation revealed that unknown suspects smashed the window of the church sometime between September 30 at 12 p.m. and the time of the report. Any person with information regarding this incident should contact the Wellington County OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit a tip online at www. csgw.tips. You may be eligible for a reward from Crime Stoppers of up to $2,000.

OCTOBER 3

7:10 AM | A southbound school bus was stopped on Kossuth Road waiting to turn left onto Speedsville Road when the driver of the school bus attempted to make a left-hand turn when it was hit from behind by another southbound vehicle. After colliding with the bus, the 52-year-old male driver of the vehicle crossed the centerline and sideswiped a northbound vehicle. One student was on the bus at the time but was not injured. The driver of the southbound vehicle was charged with ‘careless driving.’