Police will be patrolling the highways in large numbers in the Lakeland and across Canada this Thanksgiving weekend.
Operation Impact takes place annually over the weekend because research indicates that fatal and serious car accidents are more likely to occur on weekends, and that a sustained and that having a large police presence on the roads does a lot to reduce them.
“We are reminding Albertans that not everyone has the Thanksgiving weekend off – including the traffic safety officers who’ll be out trying to make sure everyone gets where they are going safely,” said Inspector Steve Daley. Acting Officer in Charge, Alberta RCMP Traffic Services. “Albertans can help us do that by buckling up, slowing down, staying focused and doing whatever it takes to keep impaired drivers off the roads.”
So far this year, car accidents have already resulted in 158 deaths and 3,493 injuries in Alberta. Over the 2015 Thanksgiving weekend, four people died and 68 were injured.
“Our goal for Thanksgiving weekend is to reduce the number of serious collisions by making drivers think twice before taking risks behind the wheel,” said Alberta Traffic Sheriff Superintendent Rick Gardner. “That is what Operation Impact is all about.”
Don’t forget that it’s harvest time as well, so there will be lots of tractors and such on the roads. Also keep an eye out for cyclists, pedestrians and any wildlife that decide to jump out.