RENFREW COUNTY (Pembroke) — Last week was National Teen Drivers Safety Week, which runs from October 20 to 26. Young people have the highest rate of traffic death and injury among all age groups and represent the largest number of drivers who test positive for drugs or alcohol after a fatal crash.
Factors that jeopardize the safety of teen drivers and their passengers are:
- Impairment from alcohol and/or drugs.
- Distraction, including cell phone use.
- Lack of skill and experience.
- Speeding.
Priority should be placed on talking to teens about driving while impaired, distracted and/or speeding. Listed below are some helpful resources that can provide information to help start the conversation.
- https://www.ontario.ca/page/distracted-driving
- https://parachute.ca/en/injury-topic/road-safety/
Renfrew County and District Health Unit has partnered with Accident Awareness Inc. to provide innovative presentations to high schools across Renfrew County and District. Accident Awareness Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation that is devoted to preventing motor vehicle collisions through an innovative crash display and motivational digital media presentation that encompasses fundamental aspects directly related to adolescents and dangerous driving.
Tina Hunt Community Safety Officer, Renfrew Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) reports “The Ontario Provincial Police is committed to ensuring Ontario’s roads are safe from drug-impaired drivers, this includes cannabis and other drugs. Drug impaired fatalities do occur on our roadways and the OPP is committed to educating and enforcing impaired driving laws to help prevent these tragic and preventable deaths. Do your part to help keep our roads safe, drive sober and arrive home safely.”
