By battlefordsNOW

RCMP urge motorists to drive safe this holiday weekend

May 18, 2018 | 11:00 AM

National Police Week comes to an end on Saturday, but with the approaching long weekend members of the Battlefords RCMP know their work is just beginning.

Members from the local detachment will be out in full force on the highways all weekend long, according to Staff Sgt. Darcy Woolfitt.

“We realize that many folks consider this holiday weekend as the official start of cottage season and that many people will be hitting the highways with their families,” Woolfitt said. “We just want people to use common sense before they get behind the wheel.”

Even though there has been a huge campaign over the past year to raise public awareness about the dangers of impaired or distracted driving, he said some motorists seem to be ignoring the risks.

“It’s frustrating for our members to see people not get the message about drinking and driving, and now we add distracted driving in the fray and it becomes more dangerous on the highways,” he said. “We will certainly be ready this weekend, and if you decide you want to chance it you will pay the consequences.”

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Woolfitt was just one of many local members of the RCMP on hand Thursday afternoon at a fundraising barbecue celebrating National Police Week and raising funds for the Battlefords Boys and Girls Club. Even though the weather was less than favourable, Woolfitt said they enjoyed doing their part for a worthy non-profit organization.

“The theme for this year’s National Police Week is ‘Meet Your Neighbour,’ and it’s a great chance for people to come out and meet us and see that we are more than just people in a uniform,” he said. “We want people to know that we are involved in the community.”

roger.white@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW