**TIMMINS POLICE SERVICE NEWS RELEASE**

Today marks the beginning of Operation Impact 2018, a national public awareness campaign aimed at making Canada’s roads the safest in the world. All enforcement agencies across the country have been invited to participate with a goal to increase public compliance with safe driving measures in order to save lives and reduce injuries on our roads.

Educating the public in safe driving practices is a priority. The focus will be on behaviors that put drivers, passengers and other road users most at risk: impaired driving, lack of seat belt use, aggressive driving, and distracted driving.

“Traffic safety remains a top priority for the Timmins Police Service. It is up to individual drivers to make the right choices and to put their priorities in the right places. Operation Impact is our way to ensure that drivers make it to their travel destination safely. It could be one more thing families and friends can be thankful for this Thanksgiving weekend,” said John Gauthier, Chief of Police.

It is not a coincidence that the timing of this campaign to achieve safer streets and highways takes place during this long weekend. More people are traveling and collisions are therefore more frequent. Here in Timmins, there have been traffic collisions that have resulted in serious injury and in some cases loss of life over the last few years. That is why, in support of Operation Impact, the Timmins Police Service will be ramping up public awareness.

“Traffic collisions are often tragic and almost always preventable. That is why we are urging all our residents to join this year’s “drive to save lives”. Your choices behind the wheel are what truly make the difference!” added Traffic Sergeant Tom Chypyha .

Operation Impact is organized by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP), under the leadership of the CACP Traffic Safety Committee, in support of Canada’s Road Safety Strategy 2025.