Gatineau, June 10, 2022 – The various Québec police services, in collaboration with the road controllers of the Société de l’assurance-automobile fu Québec, are uniting to educate and raise awareness among drivers about the risks associated with speeding for all users of the road network. It is within the framework of the concerted national operation (ONC) VITESSE (“SPEED”), which will be held from June 10 to 16, that police and road controllers will intervene intensively with drivers who contravene the Highway Safety Code. Reckless driving and speeding will be particularly targeted.
Respecting speed limits is essential to ensure the safety of all road users. This is all the more important in the current context where many citizens are back in their place of work, the resumption of construction sites which leads to an increased presence of workers and flaggers near construction sites and the presence of vulnerable users, including pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.
I’m slowing down. I save lives.
Speeding is one of the main causes of collisions on the roads in Quebec. According to some studies, a reduction in the average traffic speed of 5 km/h would reduce the number of collisions by 15% annually.
- 10 fewer deaths for a reduction of 1 km/h
- 50 fewer deaths for a reduction of 5 km/h
- 100 fewer deaths for a reduction of 10 km/h
The data is based on a total of 340 deaths (2020 balance sheet)
The haste of a vehicle driver to reach his destination may cause him to commit one or more imprudent actions such as overtaking on the right or successive zigzags.
If every driver reduced their average speed and wore their seat belt, the number of injuries and deaths on Quebec roads would be considerably reduced.
As part of the Speed Action Plan of its 2021-2025 Road Safety Prevention Strategy, the SAAQ wants to denormalize minor speeding, i.e. to make it no longer commonplace to drive over the limits permitted speeds. To this end, the SAAQ is currently carrying out a campaign aimed at making drivers aware of the importance of respecting speed limits. Various messages are broadcast and others will be in the coming weeks.
Operation Speed will be deployed again this year under the theme “I’m slowing down. I save lives”. The angle chosen aims to empower drivers and remind them that they can make a difference and contribute to improving the road safety record by slowing down. Changing your behavior is the key to safe driving and everyone has the power to save lives.
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Sûreté du Québec
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