As part of their concerted effort to improve safety on Alberta’s highways, Alberta Traffic Sheriffs and RCMP Traffic Services, most working in integrated traffic units, cracked down on unsafe drivers over this past August long weekend, citing numerous offences.
Between Friday, July 30 and Monday, August 2, officers laid more than 4,054 charges across the province including:
* 235 for impaired driving, along with 48 24-hour suspensions;
* 98 seatbelt and child restraint infractions;
* 22 intersection infractions; and,
* 3,275 speeding violations.
Alberta Transportation statistics from 2004-2008 show as many as ten people are killed in traffic collisions every August long weekend.
To help improve highway traffic enforcement, Alberta Sheriffs and RCMP Traffic Services are integrating traffic resources around the province.
Officers are focusing education and enforcement efforts on the four most dangerous driving activities: impaired driving; not using seatbelts; speeding; and proceeding unsafely through intersections.
During August, RCMP and Sheriffs and their road safety partners are focusing on impaired drivers.
Statistics show August has a consistently high number of alcohol-related traffic deaths.