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Saving lives on the roads Thanksgiving focus for RCMP

At a time when loved ones are travelling, local RCMP join a national campaign to remind people about safe driving practices.
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RCMP busted a commercial grow-operation in the Edgewood area this week. It was unattended at the time.

This long weekend, at a time when loved ones are travelling, local RCMP join a national campaign to remind people about safe driving practices.

Operation Impact is designed to remind people that an essential part of the enforcement job is to save lives and reduce injuries on roadways.

"The deaths, pain and broken hearts that result from carelessness behind the wheel can be prevented," says Sgt. Derrick Donovan of the West Kootenay Traffic Services. "Police agencies across the country are collaborating on this project because they have seen more than enough of that, and because they know that the involvement of the driving public is essential to achieve safer streets and highways."

The focus will be on behaviours that put drivers, passengers and other road users most at risk: impaired driving, seat belt use, and all aspects related to aggressive and distracted driving.

There has been six to eight deaths per year in the West Kootenay and several serious injuries related to vehicle collisions,” said Donovan.

“These are just numbers but they represent moms, dads, sisters, brothers, loved ones, co-workers, neighbours. It is unacceptable to West Kootenay Traffic Services,” he said.

Operation Impact aims to make Canada's roads the safest in the world by 2015 is sponsored by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP), and member agencies of the CACP Traffic Committee from across Canada.