OPS lay 315 back-to-school traffic enforcement charges

OTTAWA – If police statistics are any indication, heading back to school is a dangerous proposition.

The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) laid 325 provincial offence notices during their annual back-to-school enforcement campaign last week.

“With students returning from summer holidays, the OPS Traffic Services conducted city-wide proactive traffic enforcement blitzes in school zones,” the OPS released in a statement yesterday (Sept. 6).

The back-to-school enforcement campaign – which took place from Aug. 27 to Sept. 6 – focused on traffic safety in and around school zones.

In particular, officers looked for:
•       speeding in school zones;
•       failing to stop, failing to yield to pedestrians at school crossings;
•       failing to obey crossing guards;
•       failing to obey school bus signs; and
•       distracted driving.

As a result, a total of 315 provincial offence notices were issued during this enforcement campaign.

“We wish to remind all drivers to be alert especially when driving in school zones,” said Staff Sgt. Marc-Andre Sheehy, Ottawa Police Traffic Services. “We have to be mindful that vulnerable kids who are just learning how to safely cross the street are now in and near school zones and at play in our community.”