With the first day back to school on Tuesday, September 3, 2019, police services in the area were monitoring traffic in school areas.
Among the areas that were being monitored were by C.R. Gummo Public School on Cottesmore Avenue in Cobourg, Dale Road Public School on Dale Road in Hamilton Township and St. Anthony Catholic School on Toronto Road in Port Hope.
Northumberland OPP Inspector Brian O’Halloran was one of the officers out monitoring school zones.
“It’s about education and enforcement.”
In 2018, 24 pedestrians were killed in OPP jurisdictions, with inattentive driving being the primary cause in seven (7) of the deaths. So far this year, there have been 21 pedestrian deaths, two (2) of which were caused by motorists who were not fully focused on driving.
The OPP investigated 304 school bus collisions last year, 76 of which were attributed to motorists or school bus drivers who were engaged in some form of distraction. There have been 158 school bus collisions so fa r this year, with 37 of the incidents linked to motorists or school bus drivers who failed to give driving their undivided attention.
“Drivers who use their cell phone or are distracted in other ways continue to endanger the lives of people of all ages who share the road with them, be it as a driver, passenger, pedestrian or cyclist,” said Acting Deputy Commissioner Alison Jevons, Provincial Commander, OPP Traffic Safety and Operational Support.
“With the new school year set to begin, we need all motorists to make a firm commitment to keeping all forms of distraction out of the driver’s seat.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
