Canada Road Safety Week runs May 14-20, 2024, which also covers May long weekend, Manitoba's first official long weekend of the summer. Traditionally this weekend, the RCMP sees more people on Manitoba roadways.
RCMP officers will be on the roadway enforcing against high-risk driving behaviours. Officers will also be continuing to use a tool given to peace officers under Bill C-46, which is mandatory alcohol screening. This legislation has been in effect since 2018 and allows a peace officer to conduct roadside screenings for the presence of alcohol in the body without needing to have reasonable grounds to suspect impairment. Legislators put this into effect as a proven traffic safety measure to deter impaired driving and save lives.
The Manitoba RCMP Traffic Services unit screens everyone they pull over, and many detachments throughout the province do this as well.
"Screening everyone eliminates any perception of bias, and helps us catch impaired drivers," said Inspector Michael Gagliardi, Officer in Charge of Manitoba RCMP Traffic Services. "Everyone pulled over by RCMP Traffic Services is asked to blow into an approved Alcohol Screening Device. We need every tool at our disposal to stop impaired driving and other high-risk driving behaviours. Despite all the years of telling people to drive sober and impaired driving kills, impaired driving continues to be the leading criminal cause of death in Canada."
Also assisting in enforcement is the automated licence plate readers that are present in many RCMP vehicles. These readers can read multiple plates and run them while an officer patrols an area, so high-risk drivers, prohibited drivers, and stolen vehicles can be identified quickly and efficiently.
"Our boots are also still firmly on the ground," said Inspector Gagliardi. "We are always patrolling the roadways conducting enforcement. Drive sober. Buckle up. Slow down. Stay focused. Choose to get home safely. If we all make that choice, there will be a lot less tragedy on Manitoba roadways."