FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, June 21, 2016 10:05am
(Ottawa) –Ottawa Police Central District Community officers along with Safer Roads Ottawa will be conducting traffic enforcement on Tuesday, June 21, using the ‘one-metre’ reading device.
“The one-metre reader measures the distance when a vehicle passes a cyclist, to ensure safe passing,” said Ottawa Police Constable Craig Barlow.
On September 1, 2015, Ontario passed the Making Ontario’s Roads Safer Act, which includes the one-metre rule when vehicles pass cyclists. Drivers who violate this law can face a $180 fine and receive two demerit points.
“We want drivers to remember that the road belongs to all road users and they must ensure that they always pass cyclists at a safe distance” said Cst. Barlow.
“We are very happy to be working closely with representatives from the Ottawa Police Service on this new legislation. We are one of the first municipalities in all of Canada to be using the 1 metre device technology” said Kale Brown from Safer Roads Ottawa.
Members of the media are invited to see the officers using the device on Tuesday, June 21 at 1:30 pm on Somerset Street at Metcalfe St.
The Safer Roads Ottawa Program is a leading community partnership between Ottawa Fire Services, Ottawa Paramedic Service, Ottawa Police Service, Ottawa Public Health and the Public Works Department committed to preventing or eliminating road deaths and serious injuries for all people in the City of Ottawa, through culture change, community engagement, and development of a sustainable safe transportation environment.
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