Quebec police tackle speeding, impaired drivers as road deaths rise
Last Updated: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 | 11:36 AM ET
CBC News
Quebec police will increase roadblocks and radar operations to tackle speeding and drunk driving, which they say have caused a higher-than-average number of highway accidents this summer.
Thirteen people have died on Quebec roads and highways since July 18, the official start of the province's construction holiday, a legislated two-week vacation for the construction industry that has become the province's busiest time for tourism.
That is more than half the number of deaths that occurred during the entire two-week holiday last year, police said.
More than 80 per cent of recorded accidents are caused by carelessness and could be prevented, said Joyce Kemp, a spokeswoman for the Sureté du Québec.
"We find in the causes — there's speeding, there's alcohol, and often [people try] dangerous manoeuvres," she said.
Police plan to set up more radar operations to catch speeders. "We will also do roadblocks to control drinking and driving, and to make sure passengers are wearing their seatbelts," she said.
Two men died in Quebec City on Monday night after losing control of their vehicle.
Young drivers cause problems
Traffic accident rates often rise in the summer because drivers have a false sense of security when roads aren't covered in ice and snow, said the Canadian Automobile Association.
There are also more people on the road than during the winter, the CAA said.
But young, inexperienced drivers also contribute to dangerous highway conditions, said spokeswoman Roxanne Héroux.
"Young drivers [hold] 10 per cent of the licenses, and they are involved in one out of four accidents involving death or severe injuries," she said.
Tailgating is a major problem for many people on the road, said driving instructor Tony Vlahakis, who teaches at the Montreal City Motor League.
"If they were to maintain a proper following distance, it really would help them out if something were to happen in front of them," he explained. "It would give them time to react."
