Sheriffs and RCMP nab unsafe long weekend drivers

Government of Alberta Information Bulletin

In their ongoing efforts to improve safety on Alberta’s highways, sheriff and RCMP integrated traffic units cracked down on unsafe drivers over the Labour Day long weekend.


Between Friday, September 2 and Monday, September 5, officers laid 3,743 charges across the province including:

• 29 distracted driving violations;
• 2,834 speeding violations;
• 55 hazardous driving violations, such as careless driving and stunting;
• 46 impaired driving charges, 55 other alcohol-related violations and 32 24-hour suspensions for       alcohol or drug use;
• 73 failing to stop at a stop sign infractions;
• 160 seatbelt or child restraint infractions; and
• 459 violations ranging from having no insurance to driving while suspended.

RCMP and sheriff integrated traffic units and their road safety partners are making Alberta’s highways safer by focusing on the four most dangerous driving activities: impaired driving; not using seatbelts; speeding; and proceeding unsafely through intersections; and due to recent changes in legislation, they are also focusing on distracted driving.

Some examples of distracted driving charges from the long weekend:

• a driver in Whitecourt who crossed the median while talking on a cell phone
• a driver in Fort McMurray who was talking on a cell phone with one hand and holding an ice cream cup with the other while reversing out of a parking stall.

The highest speed clocked during the weekend was 212 km/h near Ponoka.

During September, children are returning to classrooms across Alberta and 30 km/h speed limits are in effect in school zones during pick-up, drop-off and lunchtime. RCMP officers, sheriffs and their road safety partners will be targeting their back to school safety campaign at parents and children returning to school. Drivers, students, pedestrians, cyclists, and school bus passengers all have a role in back-to-school safety and need to be aware of traffic safety rules.

For more information on traffic safety visit www.transportation.alberta.ca.