Bruce Peninsula OPP media relations officer Cst. Adam Belanger [left] and interim detachment commander, Staff Sgt. Paul Richardson, discuss Highway 6 traffic enforcement results with South Bruce Peninsula council. (Jordon MacKinnon photo)Bruce Peninsula OPP media relations officer Cst. Adam Belanger [left] and interim detachment commander, Staff Sgt. Paul Richardson, discuss Highway 6 traffic enforcement results with South Bruce Peninsula council. (Jordon MacKinnon photo)
Midwestern

OPP lay more stunt driving charges on Bruce Peninsula's Highway 6

A year-long safety blitz on the Bruce Peninsula section of Highway 6 is yielding results.

The Interim Bruce Peninsula OPP detachment commander, Staff Sergeant Paul Richardson, said there have been no fatal crashes on the dangerous section of the highway so far this year, thanks to community efforts to improve safety.

Richardson said traffic enforcement has resulted in more than 100 stunt driving charges, where drivers have been clocked at least 50 kilometres per hour over the speed limit, resulting in an automatic seven-day license suspension and vehicle seizure.

"Those efforts have been collaborative, with the [Bruce Peninsula] safe communities committee, with the OPP, with local residents, with many business owners," said Richardson. "So it's certainly not solely the efforts of the OPP, but the collaborative efforts of everybody in our communities."

Richardson said the OPP's social media campaign to raise awareness has been effective, while they have relied on traffic data to deploy patrols at key times.

South Bruce Peninsula Mayor Janice Jackson said it's encouraging to see progress in such a short time-frame.

"They're obviously catching the pulse of the issues that are happening [on Highway 6], they're working extremely well with [Ministry of Transportation] in trying to resolve the issues," said Jackson. "I'm really encouraged that hopefully by next summer, we'll have an even better handle on it."

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