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Weekend checkstop drive

Between Sept. 2 and 7, the North Battleford Regional Traffic Services will be conducting a series of checkstops and roving patrols. The checkstops will take place in the Battleford, Spiritwood, Meadow Lake, Cut Knife and Onion Lake areas.

Between Sept. 2 and 7, the North Battleford Regional Traffic Services will be conducting a series of checkstops and roving patrols.

The checkstops will take place in the Battleford, Spiritwood, Meadow Lake, Cut Knife and Onion Lake areas.

This increased presence in the communities is set to coincide with the Labour Day weekend.

"Our traffic unit usually conducts operation plans on every long weekend throughout the year," said A/Cpl. Shawn Walker.

"The goal is, of course, to prevent collisions," he said.

Walker said the project will focus heavily on impaired drivers, use of seatbelts and proper use of intersections.

Walker pointed out impaired driving is the leading criminal cause of death in Canada. He also said most people don't realize that in the course of a normal day, they pass impaired drivers on the road.

Although the RCMP is stepping up their game for the long weekend, Walker wants people to know they also have a responsibility in keeping our roads safe.

"If people believe they are following an impaired driver, have a passenger in the vehicle call 911, or pull over and call," he said.

Walker estimates for every one impaired driver apprehended, 10 have been missed by police.

The consequences of drunk driving can be disastrous. Not only can impaired drivers lose their license and end up paying large fines if caught, but if they hit and kill someone, they face life in jail and a lifetime of knowing they've taken someone's life.

"They're never the same mentally or emotionally ever again," said Walker of people he's spoken to who have killed someone while driving drunk.

Drunk drivers aren't the only target this weekend. Every checkstop will have a drug recognition expert present to check for signs of substance use, such as marijuana.

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