Dufferin police lay 375 charges during safety blitz, up 24 per cent from last year

An Ontario Provincial Police badge is seen on an officer's arm. (File photo/CTV News)

Dufferin police laid a total of 375 charges during this year’s Canada Road Safety Week campaign, marking an increase of more than 24 per cent compared to last year.

The campaign, which ran from May 12 to May 18, spear-headed safe driving behaviours and compliance with traffic laws.

During the enforcement blitz, Dufferin County officers say they focused on the “Big Four” notable factors in fatal and serious crashes: impaired driving, distracted driving, speeding/aggressive driving and seatbelt violations.

Over several days, police say they laid 215 speeding charges, five stunt driving or racing charges, 16 seatbelt violations, one distracted driving charge, eight impaired driving charges and 130 other traffic-related offences.

“The campaign targeted behaviours that place drivers, passengers, pedestrians and other vulnerable road users at risk,” said OPP in a release. “Drivers are reminded to slow down, stay focused behind the wheel, wear a seatbelt and never drive while impaired.”