The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) will be on the roads during the Easter weekend (April 18th – April 21st) ensuring that motorists have a safe long weekend. The Chatham-Kent OPP will be focusing on the “Big Four”: distracted driving, seatbelts, impaired operation and aggressive driving.
1. Distracted driving – Driving without your full attention is careless driving and if convicted you could receive 6 demerit points, a maximum fine of $1000, possible licence suspension or even jail time.
2. Seatbelts – Every person travelling in a motor vehicle must wear a seatbelt or use a child car seat and drivers are responsible for ensuring that all passengers under 16 years of age are using a seatbelt or child car seat properly. Failing to do this will result in a fine totalling $240 and 2 demerit points.
3. Aggressive driving – Aggressive driving is following too close to another vehicle, not stopping at posted stop signs or passing another vehicle when it is not safe to do so. These offences have varying set fines and demerit points.
4. Impaired driving – Driving while your ability is affected by alcohol or drugs is a criminal offence in Canada. If convicted you could lose your licence, be fined or receive jail time. In Ontario a driver can also face a roadside licence suspension for having a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) between .05 and .08. This is known as the “warn range” and your licence will be suspended for a minimum of 3 days.
The Chatham-Kent OPP wants everyone to have a positive holiday weekend and you can do this by:
• Dealing with potential distractions before getting behind the wheel of a vehicle.
• Make sure that everyone in your vehicle is buckled in properly.
• Slow down and take time to get your destination.
• Don’t drink and drive, always have a designated driver.
