Transport Canada

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

Police presence intensified across Quebec last week as officers crack down on dangerous driving behaviours. The week-long operation, which began April 25 and continued until May 1, follows a recent province-wide blitz that revealed widespread traffic violations.

During an operation on April 15, the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) and local police forces handed out a staggering 5,545 tickets. The breakdown paints a concerning picture: nearly 3,000 drivers were caught speeding, 250 were nabbed using their phones behind the wheel, and 93 weren’t wearing seatbelts. An additional 2,181 tickets were issued for various other Highway Safety Code infractions.

The main causes of serious accidents remain constant: speeding, distracted driving, and driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or fatigue. Police have been paying special attention to school zones, where children are most at risk.

This year’s campaign has a new focus: the explosion of electric transport devices on our streets. Health Canada recently raised red flags about e-bikes and electric scooters, particularly regarding battery safety risks.

“It seemed like there was a police car in every corner and more so on residential streets speaking to teens on bikes and checking stop signs that are often ignored,” an Île-Perrot resident told The Suburban. “We are used to seeing this in September at the start of the school year. It’s reassuring to see this reminder before summer when it gets really crazy around here with kids on bikes that go up to 40 kilometres an hour all over the place.”

Meanwhile, Transport Canada reports these devices currently sit in a regulatory “grey zone” when it comes to safety standards.

“With more electric bikes and scooters hitting our streets, we need to make sure everyone knows how to share the road safely,” the SQ stated. The provincial police force launched this campaign under the banner “Road Safety: I’m On Board.”

The operation has involved more than 30 law enforcement partners, including 28 municipal police departments across Quebec. Officers have been monitoring high-risk areas and focusing on dangerous behaviours that commonly lead to serious or fatal collisions. Special attention has been given to motorcycle safety as the spring season begins, along with proper compliance of safety corridors around emergency vehicles and tow trucks.

The campaign extends beyond enforcement. Road users have been seeing safety messages on television, radio, and billboards across the province since April 14, continuing until May 18. The initiative is part of a broader five-year plan to make Quebec roads safer, known as the Transport Network Safety Strategy 2021-2026, which operates under the motto “Human life at the heart of our actions.”

The strategy employs a comprehensive approach through five key pillars: Partnership, Intervention, Awareness, Technology, and Evaluation (PISTE). These coordinated efforts aim to reduce the number of collisions resulting in death or serious injury across SQ-patrolled territories.

Local residents have noticed increased police presence throughout the week-long campaign. The message remains clear for all road users – whether in vehicles, on e-bikes, or crossing streets — road safety rules will be strictly enforced. The SQ emphasizes that road safety is a shared responsibility, requiring cooperation from all users to ensure everyone’s protection on Quebec’s road network.