Saving lives during Canada Road Safety Week
May 17 to 23 will mark Canada Road Safety Week, a national campaign aimed at making Canada’s roads the safest in the world.
This campaign is a police initiative designed to remind people that an essential part of the enforcement component is to save lives and reduce injuries on our roadways. Educating the public about safe driving practices is a priority. The focus will be on behaviours that put drivers, passengers, pedestrians and other vulnerable road users most at risk. These are impaired driving; either by alcohol and/or drugs, occupant restraint use, and all aspects related to aggressive and distracted driving. All enforcement agencies across the country have been invited to participate.
“The deaths, pain and broken hearts that result from carelessness behind the wheel can be prevented,” says Staff Sergeant Kevin Webb of the Manitoulin OPP. “Police agencies across the country are collaborating on this initiative and asking you to choose safe behaviours while travelling on our roadways, whether you are driving or a passenger. It is incumbent upon the police and the public to work together to ensure that Canada’s roadways are the safest in the world.”
“Here on Manitoulin Island, there have been 141 serious injuries over the last five years related to vehicle collisions. These are just numbers but these preventable injuries have a lifelong impact on many individuals and families in our communities. In support of Canada Road Safety Week, members of the Manitoulin Detachment of the OPP are continuing the commitment to the Provincial Traffic Safety Program.”
Canada Road Safety Week is sponsored by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) and Transport Canada and is part of Canada’s Road Safety Strategy 2025, which has a goal of making Canada’s roads the safest in the world by 2025.
Hitchhiker arrested for outstanding warrants
A 43-year-old Wikwemikong resident, who was wanted on three outstanding warrants after she failed to appear in court and for prints in the fall of 2015, was arrested by the Espanola Police on May 9 while hitchhiking on Centre Street in Espanola.
At 2:40 pm, a member of the Wikwemikong Tribal Police, who was driving on Centre Street and recognized the female as a wanted person, contacted the Espanola Police, who attended and spoke to the female. In speaking to the officers, the female tried to provide a false name, but as her identity was already known, she was arrested on the outstanding warrants and during a search of her person incident to arrest, a half gram of cocaine was located as well as $21 in sundry items she admitted she stole from a store at the Espanola Mall earlier in the day.
As a result of the incident, the 43-year-old was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of property obtained by crime, and obstruct police. She appeared in Bail Court in Sudbury on May 10 to answer to her charges.
Little Current duo busted with oxycodone
On May 5, 2016 at 1:25 am, a member of the Espanola Police Service stopped a vehicle on Centre Street for a licence plate light infraction, and while speaking to the male driver, the officer observed there to be marijuana on the lap of the female passenger, who handed over a baggy containing approximately 10 grams of the substance to the officer. During a search of the vehicle incident to arrest, the officer located 15 oxycodone pills in the glove box.
As a result of the traffic stop, a 36-year-old male and a 37-year-old female from Little Current were charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance. They will appear in Espanola Court on July 12 to answer to their charges.
OPP traffic stop catches impaired driver
In the afternoon on Tuesday, May 10, a member of the Manitoulin Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) conducted a traffic stop on Highway 540 at Gordon Township. The driver of the automobile was arrested after he failed the Approved Screening Device test for alcohol on the roadside.
As a result of this investigation, a 54-year-old male of Meldrum Bay has been charged with impaired driving, and exceeding the legal limit of alcohol in his blood, contrary to section 253(1) (a) and 253(1) (b) of the Criminal Code of Canada.
The accused is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Gore Bay on June 27, 2016.
Speed enforcement to focus on community safety zones
After receiving complaints of speeding in various Community Safety Zones on Manitoulin Island, members of the Manitoulin Detachment of the OPP will be concentrating speed enforcement efforts at those locations through the summer months.
Recently, the OPP monitored vehicle speeds on Yonge St, Mindemoya in front Central Manitoulin Public School (CMPS), and found 80 percent of the vehicles were travelling in excess of the posted 40 km/h speed limit. The fastest speeds were found to have occurred during school hours.
“The Community Safety Zone designation and the 40 KPH speed limit at CMPS are there to help protect the students,” stated Staff Sergeant Kevin Webb. “I have directed our officers to focus speed enforcement efforts in the school area in the coming weeks to fulfill our commitment to road safety. If you are found to be speeding, you can expect strict enforcement action by our officers.”
Speed fines within Community Safety Zones are doubled, and speeding in excess of 50 km/h over any posted speed limit will result in a seven-day vehicle impoundment, and an automatic driver’s licence suspension.
