The RCMP will be out patrolling the roads in Yukon and N.W.T. this weekend as part of Operation Impact, the annual Thanksgiving traffic enforcement blitz.

It's part of a national campaign that aims to make Canadian streets and roads the safest in the world by 2015.

Const. Steve Butt with RCMP Traffic Services in Hay River, N.W.T., said officers will set up checkstops and will be patrolling the roads and highways of every community in the territory.

“What we're really focusing on is impaired driving, seatbelt use, aggressive driving and distracted driving — that includes talking on a cell phone that doesn't have hands-free, playing around with the GPS, and texting,” he said.

“Along with enforcement we'll be attempting to educate whenever possible.”

Cpl. Shawn Pollard, head of the RCMP's Yukon traffic unit, said drunk driving and not wearing seatbelts continue to be big problems in the territory.

He said there have been at least five fatalities over the past two years involving people not wearing seatbelts.

“On the seat belt issue, I see the carnage and the people's heartbreaks that they leave behind,” he said. “It's a very simple thing — put your seatbelt on. They do save lives.”