Quebec Police Are Out To Catch Reckless Drivers Because There's So Much Speeding Right Now

Police are taking to the roads this week. The Sûreté du Québec (SQ) has announced a province-wide operation to crack down on speeding between June 5 and 11. Quebec's police force says that "police officers will be intervening intensively with drivers who violate the Highway Safety Code."

"Reckless driving and reckless speeding will be particularly targeted."

The SQ writes that it has noticed an increase in speeding "throughout the road network" recently.

A drastic reduction in traffic due to the pandemic has emboldened some drivers to take up "risky behaviours, including speeding."

But just because you have the road to yourself doesn't mean that the law disappears, too.

The SQ also expects a "significant" increase in traffic as the province takes more steps to reopen this month.

"Different types of users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists will return."

The reopening of campsites and malls will likely also lead to an increase in travel.

At the height of the health crisis, a ban on all non-essential trips between some regions emptied highways.

But the government has moved quickly to withdraw police checkpoints restricting travel in time for the summer season.

The resumption of road construction projects, some of them major, further "means that there will be an increased presence of workers and flagmen at construction sites," the SQ says.

"In this context, respecting speed limits is essential to ensure the safety of all road users."

"Speed is one of the main causes of road collisions in Quebec," according to the provincial police force.

"According to some studies, a reduction in the average speed of 5 km/h would reduce the number of collisions by 15% annually."

The SQ estimates that there could be as many as 12 fewer deaths each year if all drivers reduced their average speed by just 1 km/h.

That point will be the focus of the current operation, which will take place under the theme "Je ralentis. Je sauve des vies."

In English that's "I slow down. I save lives" — much less catchy.

"The angle chosen aims to empower drivers and remind them that they can make a difference and contribute to improving road safety by slowing down. They are all part of the solution and have the power to save lives!"