The Chatham-Kent Police Service and the Ontario Provincial Police are joining police services across Canada this Thanksgiving long weekend in support of Operation Impact 2026, a national road safety initiative focused on reducing preventable collisions, injuries and deaths on Canadian roads.
Led by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, Operation Impact runs from Oct. 9 to 12 and combines public education with traffic enforcement. This year’s theme is “Safety is in YOUR hands.”
Chatham-Kent officers will be paying particular attention to alcohol- and drug-impaired driving, fatigue-impaired driving, aggressive driving, distracted driving, and seatbelt and child car seat violations. Police are asking motorists to drive sober, slow down, put the phone away, buckle up and plan ahead.
“Thanksgiving is a time for family and friends and we want everyone to arrive at their destination and return home safely. Every driver has a responsibility to make good decisions behind the wheel. Slow down, stay focused, drive sober and buckle up. Road safety is a shared responsibility and this weekend, safety truly is in your hands,” said Staff Sgt. Jason Herder.
The OPP says that over the last 10 years in Ontario, Thanksgiving weekends have had the second-highest number of fatalities among all long weekends. Last year alone, 13 people died in roadway collisions in OPP jurisdictions. Alcohol and drug use remain the leading factors in fatalities over the last decade, while failing to wear safety equipment such as seatbelts, helmets and lifejackets continues to be a significant contributor.
OPP officers will be patrolling across Ontario with a focus on education and enforcement of impaired driving due to alcohol, drugs and fatigue, aggressive driving, distracted driving, and the use of seatbelts and child car seats. Officers will also be out on trails and waterways, targeting unsafe behaviour and promoting safety.
“Make safety a priority so that arriving safe is one more thing to be thankful for this holiday weekend,” the OPP said.
