5 September 2016School starts, police focus on school traffic enforcement_ (press release) _** Ottawa ** – The Gatineau Police Service and Ottawa Police Service’s [ Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) ](http://www.ottawapolice.ca/en/about-us/safer-roads-ottawa.asp) will focus on school bus and school zone safety as well as vehicle occupant restraints during the month of September. ** School Bus / School Zone Safety: ** Between 2010 and 2014, there were 890 collisions within school zones, on school days around bell time, resulting in 207 injuries. ** Vehicle Occupant Restraint: ** Between 2010 and 2014, there were 166 collisions involving the lack of or improper use of vehicle occupant restraints. These collisions resulted in 15 fatalities and 169 injuries. The Safer Roads Ottawa Program is a leading community partnership between Ottawa Fire Services, Ottawa Paramedic Service, Ottawa Police Service, Ottawa Public Health and the Public Works Department committed to preventing or eliminating road deaths and serious injuries for all people in the City of Ottawa, through culture change, community engagement, and development of a sustainable safe transportation environment. Also participating in the Safer Roads Ottawa Program are the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Sureté du Québec, Department of National Defence’s Military Police and Gatineau Police Service to improve road safety for all residents of the national capital region. Ottawa residents have identified traffic safety as a top priority. The [ Safer Roads Ottawa Program ](http://ottawa.ca/en/residents/transportation-and-parking/safer-roads-ottawa-program) is committed to using available resources to make Ottawa roads safer for residents.