Throughout the month of June, the Traffic Services Unit of the Nova Scotia RCMP will be focussing their enforcement efforts on speeding and aggressive driving.

Each year in Canada, traffic collisions account for approximately 3,000 deaths and 19,000 serious injuries within RCMP jurisdictions.

In the past 6 years in Nova Scotia, speed was a factor in 263 motor vehicle collisions, resulting in 108 deaths.

Speeding falls under the broader term of aggressive driving, which is driving that involves the operation of a motor vehicle in manner that endangers or is likely to endanger persons or property. It may range from personal risk-taking behaviours to hostile action toward another person or vehicle.

Specific examples of aggressive driving include:

-excessive speeding
-following too closely to another vehicle (tailgating)
-unsafe lane changes (i.e., weaving in and out of traffic)
-rolling through stop signs
-failing to stop for yellow and/or red lights
-blocking intersections
-failing to yield

‘By focussing our enforcement efforts on aggressive driving this month, our goal is to not only stop motorists from engaging in this behaviour, but to also educate the public on the dangers of driving aggressively’ says Cst. Mark Skinner of the Nova Scotia RCMP Traffic Services Unit. ‘In doing so, we hope to ultimately reduce the amount of deaths, serious injuries and property damage that occurs due to aggressive driving.’

The RCMP encourages motorists to be attentive of the dangers of excessive speed and to contact police in the event that they witnesses dangerous driving behaviours on Nova Scotia roadways.

Source: Release