Send this page to someone via email

Police departments from the Greater Toronto Area are joining forces for Canada Road Safety Week.

The week-long event, which begins May 16 and ends after Victoria Day Monday, will target impaired drivers, those who fail to use a seatbelt, distracted and aggressive driving.

Police will keep a close eye on key areas such as Highway 427 and 401, Don Valley Parkway, Gardiner Expressway and high volume city streets.

“Toronto alone has seen 22 traffic fatalities,” Toronto police Const. Clint Stibbe said. “Although those numbers are lower than they were last year, they’re not low enough. We need to get down to zero.”

Police say distracted driving continues to be a problem on roads and officers will pay special attention to drivers who use hand-held devices in their vehicles.

“People are making bad decisions, bad choices to be getting into a vehicle after drinking, being impaired, and having that cellphone around and not paying attention and aggressive driving,” OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said.

Story continues below advertisement

“This is the time of year when people are coming out with their motorcycles and their fast cars and they’re trying to prove themselves but the roads are not place for that.”

Canada Road Safety Week is a national traffic safety conducted in partnership with the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and police services from across Canada.

It is National Road Safety Week! We will have enhanced traffic enforcement & R.I.D.E. checks this week. #KeepingYouSafe @CACP_ACCP pic.twitter.com/3AXdp6OCHA — South Simcoe Police (@SouthSimcoePS) May 15, 2017