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Hundreds of drivers charged during Canada Road Safety Week

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 05/23/2012 10:51 AM

Manitoba RCMP charged hundreds of drivers during its recent Canada Road Safety Week, a national enforcement campaign corresponding with the May long weekend.

The week-long campaign resulted in RCMP charging 50 motorists with impaired driving offences. Five drivers were given 24-hour alcohol-related roadside suspensions. As well, 87 were charged for not wearing seatbelts, 13 with using cellphones, 589 with speeding or aggressive driving, 32 with failing to stop at an intersection, 24 for driving while suspended and eight with other Criminal Code driving offences. Another 227 were ticketed for other Highway Traffic Act or Liquor Control Act offences.

There was one fatality during the campaign.

The highest speed recorded was on Saturday, May 19 after a 19-year-old male was stopped on Highway 1 just east of Portage la Prairie for driving 182 kilometres an hour in a 100 zone. In addition to his $1092.50 speeding ticket, the driver faces up to a three-month driving suspension.

The number of impaired driving charges were down from the 2011 campaign