'Just drive': Alberta RCMP emphasize road safety ahead of long weekend
From texting to brushing their teeth behind the wheel, Alberta RCMP say the poor behaviour of many drivers can create serious safety issues on area highways.
That is why police are continuing with an annual event aimed at reminding Albertans about the consequences of their actions.
Between May 17 and 23, which is Canada's Road Safety Week, the RCMP is conducting activities to reinforce safe driving behaviours and reduce the risk of injuries and death on the province's roadways all throughout the summer season.
Sgt. Darrin Turnbull, with Alberta RCMP Traffic Services, says he has seen all sorts of things that drivers are doing that they shouldn't be over the years.
"It's actually shocking when you look left and look right to see what the driver is doing beside you. When you're driving a vehicle on any roadway, we want you to just be doing the one thing – just drive."
Turnbull says he's just one officer out of hundreds who will be out maintaining safe driving behaviours over the long weekend. He says they will be concentrating on the four main causes of collisions.
"(Those are) distracted driving, speeding and aggressive driving, impaired driving by drugs or alcohol and occupants in restraints – we want to make sure everyone is wearing their seatbelts."
Since it is a long weekend, the RCMP know there will be more people out on the road, either driving to and from activities or visits with friends and family members. Turnbull wants people to understand that a moment of distraction could be the difference between you and a crash.
"If you don't notice what the person does in front of you when they make a mistake, had you been paying attention, you might have avoided the collision."
RCMP WILL WATCH FOR IMPAIRED DRIVERS
In addition to watching for distracted drivers and other issues, the RCMP will be enforcing sober driving.
"In 2021, Alberta RCMP issued 2,321 traffic safety tickets and removed a total of 101 impaired drivers from the roads over the Victoria Day Long weekend," said Insp. Chris Romanchych, Alberta RCMP Traffic Services, in a release.
"The driving decisions you may not only impact you, but also everyone else you are sharing the road with. So this long weekend, we encourage motorists to think of others when they get behind the wheel and to choose safe driving behaviours."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
"It's a bit of a complicated pattern; we've got a lot going on," said Jennifer Smith of the Meteorological Service of Canada in an interview with CTVNews.ca on Wednesday. "[As is] typical with weather, all of these things are related."
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Police tangle with students in Texas and California as wave of campus protest against Gaza war grows
Police tangled with student demonstrators in Texas and California while new encampments sprouted Wednesday at Harvard and other colleges as school leaders sought ways to defuse a growing wave of pro-Palestinian protests.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.