A Durham police back-to-school safety campaign ended with 1,447 charges, including hundreds of Durham school-zone charges for speeding and stop-sign violations.
The annual In the Zone campaign combined targeted enforcement and education in school zones and Community Safety Zones across Durham Region. Police said the initiative focused on conduct that puts students, pedestrians and families at risk.
Speeding accounts for 724 charges
The Durham Regional Police Service reported 590 general speeding charges and another 134 speeding charges in Community Safety Zones.
Officers also laid 207 charges for stop-sign violations and 19 additional stop-sign charges in Community Safety Zones. The results included 39 distracted-driving charges involving hand-held devices and 29 red-light or amber-light offences.
Other reported charges included five for suspended driving, four seatbelt offences, three for failing to obey a crossing guard and three for failing to yield to a pedestrian. Police also laid one stunt-driving charge and seven pedestrian-related charges for failing to use a crosswalk or obey pedestrian signals.
A further 406 Highway Traffic Act and administrative offences brought the campaign total to 1,447.
Final figures follow regional ride-along
The campaign total is a substantial update to an enforcement ride-along reported earlier in September. That event highlighted individual drivers stopped in Whitby and Oshawa, including motorists police alleged were travelling well above posted school-zone limits.
The newly released figures show the results of the completed region-wide campaign rather than those individual stops. Charges are allegations, and any final penalty or demerit points depend on conviction.
DRPS said enhanced campaign activity has ended, but officers continue traffic enforcement throughout the year. Police reminded motorists to slow down, watch for children, obey crossing guards and avoid distractions behind the wheel.
Community Safety Zones carry increased penalties for some offences. Drivers should also expect school traffic patterns to change during arrival and dismissal periods.
