STEP to focus on school bus, school zones and vehicle occupant restraints

The Gatineau Police Service and Ottawa Police Service’s Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) will focus on school bus and school zones safety as well as vehicle occupant restraints during the month of September. ** _ School Bus / School Zone Safety: _ ** Between 2009 and 2013, there were 29 collisions resulting in 5 injuries involving school buses or occurring in school zones. ** _ Vehicle Occupant Restraint: _ ** Between 2009 and 2013, there were 183 collisions involving the lack of, or improper use of, vehicle occupant restraints resulting in 18 fatalities and 183 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 is committed to using available resources to make Ottawa roads safer for residents.