School's out, the calendar says summer has started and you're heading out for Canada Day, the first, official, holiday weekend of the summer.  

On the Canada Day weekend in 2017, seven people were killed in six traffic accidents in the province, which Constable Mike Hibbs with the Alberta RCMP Traffic Services says is far too many.

Hibbs says many of those fatalities came about because of a combination of things the RCMP don't want on holiday weekend, alcohol, speed and distracted driving.  He says when driving, they're all equally dangerous.  "It's a combination of everything.  Some of those accidents did involve alcohol, some of them distracted driving and some of them speed."

The old joke goes that there are two seasons in Canada....winter and construction.  With so many construction projects underway this summer, Hibbs says you should be ever mindful when travelling through those zones.

"It's a big factor for this time of year.  Give yourself plenty of time to get on the roads.  Construction zones are everywhere in the province right now and thee are people working daily in those construction zones and there are signs posted and the directions are posted so don't speed through those areas and don't be distracted when you do."

Hibbs says the RCMP believe that summer safety is a shared responsibility which is why they've started the #SummerSafety campaign.  "You can go to #SummerSafety or like us on facebook at rcmpinalberta and on Twitter @RCMPAlberta.  We encourage everyone to go to #SummerSafety or use our facebook and Twitter and you'll find some great tips there."

The shared responsibility covers passenger vehicle drivers, drivers of commercial vehicles, riders of ATVs and other off-highway vehicles, cyclists, and even pedestrians. 

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