People are so excited to start their vacations, they drive while tired. They speed in order to spend just a few more minutes relaxing and soaking up the sun. And, sometimes, they get in the festive spirit a little early and dip into the beer cooler before they’ve even reached their destination.
These factors and others all add to the heightened chance of injury and death on roadways during long weekends.
In recognition of these risk factors, Alberta RCMP often increases its enforcement efforts to ensure the safety of travellers and vacationers. On Victoria Day weekend last year, 5,711 tickets were handed out in the province.
Of those, 5,357 charges were traffic violations, including 3,901 speeding violations, 58 impaired driving violations and 125 other alcohol-related violations.
The recipients of those tickets were likely upset, but it’s important to remember they’re lucky—they tested the limits and survived to pay the fine. Many others aren’t so fortunate.
Last year, May long weekend saw three traffic fatalities and two ATV-related deaths in the province.
To many of us, those were just news stories, with little to no relatability, but as Jasper’s Grade 9 students learned in the P.A.R.T.Y. Program last week, accidents happen and those accidents can happen to anyone.
No one is invincible.
That’s why it’s so important that everyone on the road recognizes the power they have. Every driver has the power to hurt or kill, not only those in their own vehicle, but others on the highway. All it takes is one bad decision—one glance at a cellphone, an extra push on the gas pedal, or a beer before the road.
So, if you’re travelling this weekend put the cellphone away, be mindful of your speed, keep your eyes on the road and save the alcohol for later.
Do it for yourself. Do it for the people in your vehicle. Do it for your friends and family at home. Do it for the other people on the road and for their friends and family.
Make this long weekend an anomaly, let it pass without injury or death, so everyone can go home the way they left—perhaps only a little more tanned and rested than before.
