The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) has released statistics from the 2024 edition of "Project Safe Start", its annual back-to-school safety program.
HRPS' Traffic Services Unit has compiled statistics from this year's Project Safe Start road safety initiative and failing to stop at a stop sign was found to be the most common offence observed by HRPS officers across Halton region.
The Project Safe Start campaign ran from Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, to Friday Sept. 6, 2024, and focused on education, awareness and high-visibility enforcement of traffic laws throughout the region.
Over the course of the campaign our officers committed 2,631 hours to Safe Start education and enforcement with 1,280 charges laid and 1,331 warnings issued.
As failing to stop for a stop sign was the most common offence, accounting for over half of the offences laid during Project Safe Start, we would like to remind drivers that when approaching a stop sign:
- Ensure your vehicle wheels stop rolling and you bring your vehicle to a complete stop
- Stop your vehicle at a marked stop line
- If no stop line is present but you are instead faced with a crosswalk, stop immediately before entering the crosswalk
- If no stop line or crosswalk is present, stop immediately before entering the intersection
“Traffic laws are essentially the playbook for safe driving. When everyone chooses to play by the rules, we all win.” Said S/SGT Ryan Snow of the Community Mobilization Bureau. “Thank you to all area motorists who helped ensure area children had a safe start this school year.”
Project Safe Start has run for 17 years and has served as a highly visible reminder to vehicle drivers, cyclists and pedestrians that we follow the proper traffic safety laws and heed extra caution around school zones as we work together to ensure our collective safety.
Residents are reminded that they can file driving complaints or request enforcement of a particular area through the HRPS website at Report a Traffic Concern - Halton Regional Police Service (haltonpolice.ca)
Criminal and or dangerous driving should be reported immediately by calling 9-1-1.