West Nipissing Ouest – Sturgeon Falls, Verner, St Charles, Field and Area News 
This Canada Day long weekend, members of the Nipissing West Detachment and the Sudbury Traffic Incident Management and Enforcement (TIME) Team of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) had a very busy long weekend. Officers were out on full force on the highways, waterways and trails, targeting aggressive drivers.
There was zero tolerance for any aggressive driving related offences, including Speeding, Drive motor vehicle – Perform Stunt, Follow too Closely and various other offences.
The results were as follows:
- 63 Speeding
- 2 Perform Stunt
- 4 Seatbelts
- 15 Hazardous Moving Violations
- 3 other Highway Traffic Act and
- 5 Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act charges
Nipissing West officers responded to a total of 9 motor vehicle collisions. One driver suffered minor injuries after colliding with a moose on Highway 17. Fortunately, others escaped injuries after their vehicle struck a bear on Highway 69 while another struck a deer on Highway 637.
Wildlife can be a hazard at all hours of the day or night. Wildlife flock to open spaces, like highways, as a form of relief from biting insects. Motorists are reminded to scan the sides of the roadway and reduce your speed. This will significantly increase your reaction time.
Please help do your part to getting everyone home safe this summer. Drivers can adopt safe, defensive driving behaviours. Passengers and the public in general can help by adopting an intolerance of these behaviours and recognizing the serious risk they pose to the road users. Wear a lifejacket while out on the water and always drive sober!
Should you observe a suspected impaired driver, please call 911 or contact the Ontario Provincial Police at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).