All Canadian Police Services Launch Campaign Aimed At Young Drivers

Monday, 16 October 2017 05:19

A ten-year trend shows one in four teens who died in a motor vehicle crash tested positive for cannabis

OXFORD COUNTY - Calling on all teens to #GetHomeSafe. This is the message the annual campaign is trying to drive home to all young drivers on the road. In a partnership with all Canadian Police Services, Parachute Canada is launching the social media and outreach campaign as part of National Teen Driver Safety Week on until October 21.

Distracted driving and drug-impaired driving are the focus of this years campaign which is hoping will make the roads safer, and ultimately save lives. A recent survey found 96 per cent of Canadian drivers would stop driving distracted, if a passenger asked them to, this is a message they are encouraging teens to use if they are in a vehicle with a distracted driver.

The message is clear, don't drive distracted and put the cell phones away. But is the message getting across to our teens? Community Service, Media Relations Constable Nikki VanLeeuwen with the Woodstock Police Department says the teens are jut not getting it.

"The kids just don't see this as a distraction, they think they can handle being on their phone or being high and driving and we need to hit this message home with these young people."

Distracted driving is a factor in up to 19% of all fatal crashes involving teen drivers. In addition to distracted driving, drug-impaired driving is also claiming lives of our teens on the roads. A ten-year trend shows one in four teens who died in a motor vehicle crash tested positive for cannabis. This is just one statistic that is the drive and motivation during National Teen Driver Safety Week.

VanLeeuwen says teens are have got the wrong idea about cannabis.

"Some of the conversations and dialogue that we are having with young people is that they actually don't think it impairs their ability to drive and it absolutely does, so we just take the opportunity to educate them about the facts."

The annual campaign is a joint effort by Parachute, The Woodstock Police , the Oxford County Injury Prevention Team, Oxford OPP and Oxford County Board of Health. Steve Podborski, Parachute President and CEO believes this is a powerful campaign with a strong message.

“Just one wrong choice can cause a devastating collision. Teen drivers have the power to make the right choices, prevent heartbreak and save lives.”

The Woodstock Police Service encourages the public to call them if distracted drivers, aggressive drivers or impaired drivers are spotted on the roads. Contact WOODSTOCK POLICE SERVICE at 519-537-2323 or Crime Stoppers 421-TIPS (8477) or toll free at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).