Members of the Essex County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) took part in the Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend Traffic Campaign from October 11, 2024, to October 14, 2024.

Operation Impact is an education and enforcement campaign implemented in an effort to increase public compliance with traffic laws, and targets the behaviours that place drivers, passengers, and other road users at risk, such as the “Big Four” which include:

·        Distracted driving,

·        Alcohol/drug- impaired driving,

·        Speeding/aggressive driving,

·        Lack of seatbelt use.

This year, Essex County OPP officers conducted more than 245 traffic stops and laid more than 305 charges during the initiative. Some of the charges included are the following:

• 173 speeding charges,
• Two stunt driving charges,
• 14 seatbelt charges,
• 18 impaired driving charges,
• Two distracted driving charges,
• 62 other traffic-related charges.

Essex County OPP officers also issued more than 160 warnings to motorists during the campaign period.

Traffic safety is everyone’s responsibility!

Drivers should make a commitment to adopt safe, defensive driving behaviours and always drive within the law. Passengers and the public in general can help by adopting an intolerance of poor driving behaviours, recognizing the serious risk they pose to road users and engage in conversations about safe driving with their families, neighbours, and other people in their communities.