Government Services
Transportation and Works
May 16, 2007

Road Safety Week Encourages Motorists to Drive Safely

With the Victoria Day long weekend approaching, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are encouraged to drive safely as they head out to their favourite vacation spots to celebrate the unofficial beginning of summer.

This week, May 15 to 21, also marks Canada Road Safety Week, a national campaign to make Canada's roads are the safest in the world. The Honourable Dianne Whalen, Minister of Government Services, and the Honourable John Hickey, Minister of Transportation and Works, are asking motorists to make safe driving their number one priority this weekend.

"For Road Safety Week and especially the long holiday weekend, motorists are strongly encouraged to examine their own driving habits and look at ways that they can make their driving safer," said Minister Whalen. "At all times, drivers are encouraged not to speed, not to drive impaired whether it is from alcohol, drugs or fatigue, to buckle up their seat belts and to pay full attention to the task at hand � driving. Remember, YOU Are in Control."

Canada Road Safety Week is sponsored by Transport Canada and endorsed by police and is part of Road Safety Vision 2010, which has a goal of making Canada's roads the safest in the world by 2010. Police forces across the country will be working to draw attention to safe driving practices with the ultimate goal of saving lives. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police will be working in partnership with Motor Registration Division�s enforcement staff to hold checkpoints throughout the province.

"We want everyone to be safe when they are driving," said Minister Hickey. "The Department of Transportation and Works is doing its part to improve the province�s roads. This year�s $66.5 million Provincial Roads Improvement Program budget is the largest in the province�s history."

Minister Hickey also pointed out that his department has teamed with the Department of Government Services to implement Weigh-In-Motion (WIM) sites throughout the province to ensure no over-weight vehicles are using our transportation network. The Department of Transportation and Works will invest $1 million from Budget 2007 to install the WIM sites that will be operated by the Department of Government Services, Motor Registration Division, through an investment of $280,400.

Additionally, the Department of Transportation and Works will also purchase a $500,000 Automatic Road Analyzer (ARAN) vehicle to measure all significant road conditions such as roughness, rutting and cracking and potholes.

In addition to encouraging motorists to be extra cautious this week, the Provincial Government promotes highway safety year-round through the YOU Are in Control highway safety campaign which was launched last December. This campaign was developed by the Traffic Safety Committee established through the Motor Registration Division of the Department of Government Services. Members of the committee also include the RCMP, the RNC, the departments of Transportation and Works, and Health and Community Services, the City of St. John�s and the Newfoundland and Labrador Safety Council. The intent of the campaign is to grab people�s attention and show them that everyone has a responsibility in making sure highways are safe.

- 30 -

Media contacts:

Vanessa Colman-Sadd
Director of Communications
Department of Government Services
709-729-4860, 682-6593
vanessacolmansadd@gov.nl.ca 
David Salter
Director of Communications
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-3015, 691-3577
davidsalter@gov.nl.ca

2007 05 16                                                    10:05 a.m.

 


SearchHomeBack to GovernmentContact Us


All material copyright the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. No unauthorized copying or redeployment permitted. The Government assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of any material deployed on an unauthorized server.
Disclaimer/Copyright/Privacy Statement