NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE
**************************
COUNTY OF WELLINGTON - On Aug. 2 through to Aug. 5, 2019, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) members were engaged in a traffic enforcement initiative throughout the Province. The focus of the campaign was on the ‘Big 4’ offences (aggressive driving/speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving and seatbelts) which are commonly found to be contributing factors in fatal and serious injury motor vehicle collisions.
This year's campaign had special emphasis on offences related to the ‘Fail to Move Over for Emergency Vehicles’ legislation that requires drivers to slow down, proceed with caution and if safe to do so, move over to another lane when approaching a first responder or tow vehicle stopped on the side of the road the emergency lights activated. This legislation was created to protect the lives of first responders while they perform their duties.
Throughout the campaign, uniform members as well as the Traffic Management Unit conducted enforcement in Wellington County and laid approximately 126 charges including:
• speeding - 53
• fail to move over for emergency vehicle - 14
• stunt driving - six
• seatbelts - four
• other hazardous moving violations - eight
• impaired driving (alcohol) - three
• Controlled Substances/Cannabis Act - five
Wellington County OPP is pleased to report zero fatal motor vehicle collisions within the County throughout the weekend.
"I am thrilled that over the weekend, Wellington County O.P.P. and the community experienced no fatal collisions. It is concerning, however, that our officers' laid 14 charges related to drivers failing to move over for emergency vehicles. There has been significant media and public attention drawn to the legislation, yet each year numerous first responders are injured or lose their lives because drivers won't move over. Our first responders want and deserve to go home to their families at the end of their shifts. We will continue to conduct strict enforcement in Wellington County with the goal of making our roads the safest in the province.” - Wellington County OPP, Traffic Management Unit Manager, Sgt. Darryl Porterfield.
**************************
