Halton Regional Police Service laid 2,274 charges and handed out 536 warnings during its annual back-to-school road safety campaign, with stop sign violations and speeding topping the list of offences.
The 19th annual Project Safe Start ran from Monday, September 7 to Friday, September 18, according to Halton Regional Police Service. The campaign focuses on safe driving behaviour in and around school zones as students return to class.
Officers dedicated more than 3,350 hours to the initiative, which combined education with increased enforcement to address traffic and road safety concerns across Halton Region.
"The results of Project Safe Start demonstrate the impact proactive traffic enforcement has on road safety," said Stephen Tanner, Chief of Police for the HRPS. "I would be happier if our officers did not encounter drivers committing infractions, however as enforcement figures would suggest, concerns remain surrounding unsafe driving practices in and around our school zones."
Tanner added that the service will continue to prioritise youth safety and that officers remain committed to addressing dangerous driving behaviour and reinforcing the message that everyone has a role to play in keeping roads safe.
According to Halton Regional Police Service, failing to obey stop signs and speeding are the most common offences its officers encounter during the campaign — a trend the service says it witnesses year after year.
Project Safe Start has run for nearly two decades and serves as a highly visible reminder to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians to obey traffic laws and take extra caution in and around school zones.
Halton Regional Police Service is reminding residents to report driving violations or request enforcement in a specific area through its website. In an emergency, residents should dial 9-1-1.
