Traffic Programs
Safe Roads... Your Call.jpg)
The Safe Roads…York Call program is a multi-phased campaign which began with the unveiling of new signage to alert drivers. Signs have been placed across York Region, both on regional and municipal roads, encouraging drivers to call 9-1-1 if they see another motorist they suspect is impaired.
York Regional Police and its partners are encouraging motorists to immediately call 9-1-1 if they see a suspected impaired driver. Many citizens hesitate before placing the call, either intimidated to call police or thinking they may be mistaken, but traffic safety is everyone’s responsibility. That call may save a life or prevent serious injury. Impaired driving is a crime in progress and as such, warrants a 9-1-1 call
Watch the Safe Roads... Your Call video here
Project E.R.A.S.E
E.R.A.S.E- Eliminate Racing Activity On Streets Everywhere- is an awareness and enforcement campaign operated jointly by police services across Ontario in partnership with the Government of Ontario, with the goal of eliminating street racing and other high-risk driving behaviours. Aggressive driving and street racing are dangerous, unlawful activities which put innocent people at risk of injury or death. The real finish-line may be court, fines, jail, vehicle seizure and a loss of driving privileges.
Street racing behaviour or vehicle modifications may have an impact on insurance premiums. Insurance companies consider a driver’s record when establishing rates. Convictions or substantial vehicle modifications may result in the cancellation of your insurance policy.
Potential Consequences
- Up to 5 years imprisonment for Dangerous Driving
- Up to 10 years imprisonment for Dangerous Driving involving injuries
- Up to 14 years imprisonment for Dangerous Driving causing death
- Fines and up to six months imprisonment for Careless Driving or Racing
- Possible lifetime driving prohibition
- Possible seizure and/or destruction of vehicles involved in street racing
Click here to visit the Project E.R.A.S.E website.
R.I.D.E - Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere
York Regional Police has devoted significant resources to the fight against impaired driving, be it by alcohol or drugs. Impaired driving is a senseless and preventable crime that continues to destroy the lives of innocent people every day.
Our citizens continue to be strong allies in the fight against impaired driving since the launch of the Safe Roads…Your Call program. The program urges residents to call 9-1-1 immediately if they see a suspected impaired driver. Impaired driving is a crime in progress and as such, warrants a 9-1-1 call.
York Regional Police is reminding the public that the R.I.D.E. program is a year-long initiative that is enhanced during the festive season and during holiday weekends and special events. York Regional Police continues to remind the public DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE OR USE DRUGS AND DRIVE. If you are planning to drink, please make arrangements for a taxi or ensure there is a designated driver to get you home safely. Public transportation and overnight accommodations are much cheaper than a lawyer, imposed court fines if found guilty, insurance fees, other provincial costs and the inconvenience of your drivers licence being suspended for a lengthy period of time.
Road Watch
Road Watch is a community driven program that provides citizens with a means to report dangerous or unlawful driver behaviour. Instances of speeding, unsafe lane changes, disobeying traffic lights and stop signs are some typical types of behaviors that qualify for a Road Watch submission.
Road Watch may be used in instances where:
- No collision occurred. If the incident resulted in a collision, please call the police for further instructions;
- The suspect driver is not known to you. If the identity of the driver is known, call the police; The suspect’s licence plate number was obtained. A brief description of the vehicle is also needed to validate the licence plate information.
File a Road Watch report online
Secure Your Future... Wear Your Seatbelt
A leading cause of injury or death behind the wheel is the misuse or non-use of seatbelts. While over 92 per cent of Ontarians wear their seatbelt regularly, the remaining eight per cent represents over 600,000 people.
Using a seatbelt is the single most effective way to reduce the chance of injury or death in a motor vehicle. In fact, most occupants who are ejected in a collision are crushed by their own vehicles.
Did you knopw that 26% of all fatal collisions in York Region involved the misuse or non-use of seatbelts?
Seatbelt use has been mandatory in Ontario since 1976 and all adults are required by law to wear one. Children under eight years of age, less than 36 kilograms (79 pounds) or less than 145 cm (4 feet 9 inches) tall are required to be seated in a child restraint system or booster seat.
Last year 3,906 vehicle occupants were charged for not wearing a seatbelt in York Region.
Seatbelt compliance is a year-round concern which demands year-round attention.
Operation Cross Smart
Operation Cross Smart targets pedestrians and motorists who disobey the rules of the road jeopardize their safety and the safety of other road users. Pedestrian safety brochures in multiple languages have been created and are distributed by officers and York Region Public Heath staff. That, coupled with targeted enforcement by officers at intersections, crosswalks and school zones help raise awareness. Following these safety tips can help keep you safe on our roads.
For pedestrians:
- Cross at marked crosswalks or traffic lights. Do not cross between parked cars
- Make eye contact with drivers to ensure they see you before you cross
- Cross only when traffic has come to a complete stop at an intersection
- At traffic lights, cross at the beginning of a green light. Do not cross once the “Don’t Walk” signal begins to flash or once the light has turned to yellow. Never cross on a red light.
- Watch for traffic turning at intersections or entering and leaving driveways
- Wear bright or light-coloured clothing or reflective strips when walking in dusk or darkness
- Wearing headphones or talking on a cell phone reduces pedestrian awareness
- Pedestrians must understand that in many types of environmental conditions they are almost invisible to motorists
- Walk on the inside of the sidewalk, or if there are no sidewalks, walk as far away from the travelled portion of the road as possible
- Where there are no curbs, stop before the sidewalk meets the road and be alert to vehicles
For motorists:
- Be patient, especially with young children or elderly pedestrians who need more time to cross the road
- Always watch for pedestrians, especially when entering an intersection, at night and while turning
- Stay alert
- Slow down in residential areas
- Slow down in school zones and watch for children who may not be watching for themselves
Be Seen. Be Safe. Cycle Smart. 
The Cycle Smart program combines education, awareness and enforcement to reach both cyclists and motorists using our roadways. Following basic safety tips can improve safety for cyclists significantly.
Be Seen:
- Wear reflective clothing, especially at night
- Ride single file when riding with others
- Make eye contact with drivers
- Always use hand signals
- Check over your shoulder when turning
- Never pass on the right as you approach an intersection, especially if the vehicle ahead of you is turning right
Be Safe:
- Always wear a helmet. It’s the law. A properly-fitted helmet can reduce the risk of serious head injuries by 85 per cent
- Parents and guardians are responsible for ensuring children under 16 wear a helmet
- Put white reflective tape on the front and rear forks of your bike
- Equip you bike with a horn or bell in good working order
- Obey all traffic signals
Operation ABC – Always Be Careful 
In partnership with the York Region District School Board and the York Region Catholic District School Board, York Regional Police continue to focus on safety in school zones and around school buses in Operation ABC. It’s aim is to heighten awareness among motorists and pedestrians, including students, teachers and parents about safety in school zones.
For Drivers:
- Slow down and be ready to stop at all times
- Obey crossing guards
- Arrive early to avoid traffic congestion
- Stop for school buses and be aware of children running in front or behind buses
- Park away from the school and walk your child onto school property
- Avoid no parking zones
- Ensure your children exit the passenger side of your vehicle
- Watch for children walking out from behind obstructions – cars, buses or snow banks
- Be patient
- Don’t honk the horn
- Remind children to always cross at crosswalks or marked intersections
For Parents and Children:
- Younger children often lack the skills to negotiate our roadways safely. Help them walk safely to school stressing the following safety rules:
- Walk on available sidewalks.
- Always cross at intersections.
- Obey crossing guards.
- When crossing intersections without signals or crossing guards:
- Stop before stepping into roadway
- Be visible and indicate crossing intentions
- Look and listen for traffic in all directions
- Make eye contact with drivers
- Cross safely when the roadway is clear
- Walk. Do not run or cycle
- If possible use the buddy system
When crossing intersections with signals:
- Push button (where they exist)
- Wait for pedestrian walk signal
- Be visible and indicate crossing intention
- Look and listen for traffic in all directions
- Make eye contact with drivers
- Walk carefully and watch for turning motorists
- Be patient
Operation Stay Focused 
The Operation Stay Focused program was developed in response to a growing trend among motorists to multi-task while driving. Drivers who are distracted are not fully concentrating on the road and are therefore dangerous. Driving while distracted is a leading cause of motor vehicle collisions.
Police officers see the tragic evidence of distracted driving daily on our roadways. In most cases, motorists are unaware of the risks involved. York Regional Police urges all drivers to pay attention to the road and stay focused. Failing to do so could result in charges including Careless Driving, Follow too Closely, Fail to Yield and Unsafe Lane Change.
Remember, the driver’s seat is no place to multi-task. Losing focus behind the wheel can be a serious, even fatal, mistake.
Driver Distractions:
• Use of cell phones, laptops, or hand-held devices
• Reading or writing
• Eating, drinking or smoking
• Tending to children or pets
• Personal grooming
• Adjusting map systems
• Loud audio systems
• Adjusting controls
• Loose or large objects near the driver
• Too many passengers
• Any combination of the above
Driving requires your complete and undivided attention. Remember these safety tips to reduce the chances of a collision:
• Avoid using cell phones while driving
• Pull off the roadway to talk
• Use a hands-free system
• Avoid using electronic hand-held devices
• Avoid stressful or emotional conversations
• Avoid reading maps or newspapers
• Limit the number of passengers to the number of seatbelts
• Ensure pets are secured away from the driver’s seat
• Educate children on proper behaviour
• Personal grooming should be done at home, not while driving
Operation Disqualified
Operation Disqualified is a year-round program targeting drivers who have been prohibited or suspended from driving by court order. These drivers have been convicted of at least one Criminal Code driving offence, such as Impaired Operation of a Motor Vehicle, and have had a sentence imposed that dictates not driving for a specific period of time.
Uniform Patrol and Traffic Bureau officers are notified whenever the courts issue such an order and under Operation Disqualified, drivers are then monitored to ensure they comply. Citizens are reminded to contact the police should they know of any suspended or prohibited drivers that continue to drive.
Traffic safety is everyone’s responsibility.
Operation Winter Blitz
Operation Winter Blitz is an education and enforcement program reminding motorists they must adjust their driving habits for the weather conditions. The majority of winter collisions are completely preventable by slowing down, increasing the distance between your car and the others on the road and ensuring you have a clear, unobstructed view.
During the winter months, officers target motorists who have not adjusted their driving for the weather, looking for violations like Careless Driving (which can include driving too fast for weather conditions or driver inattentiveness), Speeding, Unsafe Lane Changes, Following Too Closely and Improper Passing. Motorists who do not adjust their driving for winter conditions will be stopped and ticketed. Be alert, reduce your speed and drive safely.
Adjust your driving and avoid these leading causes of collisions on snow-covered roads:
Driving too fast for the conditions. A driver traveling at 40 kilometres per hour on dry roads will need about 20 metres to stop. On a snow-covered road, that distance, more than doubles to 42 metres. As speed increases, so does stopping distance.
Following too closely. Collision avoidance manoeuvres are less effective on snow-covered roads than on dry roads. Leaving more space between you and the vehicle in front provides more time and distance to take that important evasive action.
Improper tires. Many collisions which involve a loss of control are the result of worn tires. Worn tires can cause a vehicle to quickly and unexpectedly rotate into a sideways slide, exposing the occupants to a highly-dangerous side impact. Winter tires are the best choice for maximum control and traction.
Obstructed view. Not only is it important to clear all your windows of ice and snow before heading out, but it is equally important to be aware of other view obstructions. Heavy snowfalls result in high snow banks which can easily obstruct a driver’s view. Use caution when exiting driveways or when approaching intersections. Snow banks can easily hide a small car or pedestrian.
Drug Recognition Experts
York Regional Police have been involved in the Drug Evaluation and Classification program since May 2003. York Regional Police are leaders in Ontario in the number of officers trained as Standardized Field Sobriety Testing officers with 60 members and Drug Recognition Experts 27 officers.
Members from the York Regional Police provide training to other officers across Canada in the Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST) battery with 10 members that are SFST instructors. There are six members that are Drug Recognition Expert instructors and are called upon to train officers across Canada. York Regional Police is one of the only police agencies in Ontario that offers training in the SFST battery in-house to its frontline officers.
Since April 2006 the York Regional Police have had a Sergeant seconded to the RCMP to facilitate the training of officers across Canada in the SFST and DRE program. This member testified as a subject matter expert before the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights and Legal Issues and offered testimony on the Drug Evaluation and Classification program and the Drug Recognition Expert program as part of the hearings
on Bill C-2.
