It's the Thanksgiving Long Weekend and that means law enforcement will be keeping an extra eye out on the roads.

"We're encouraging people of course to use their common sense when their driving," said Cst. Mike Hibbs of the RCMP's Traffic Division. "Make sure seat belts are on, stay away from your cell phones, abide by all traffic devices, stop signs and traffic lights. Please don't drink and drive and we'll have a safe weekend."

Cst. Hibbs also talked about a Canada wide initiative this weekend known as Operation Impact.

"It's a nationwide initiative and the RCMP are heavily involved with it every year at this time. Basically we do heavy traffic enforcement on the long weekend. We set up various checkstops throughout the province."

With Thanksgiving bringing an end to the harvest season for local farmers, Hibbs said you need to be especially careful.

"The big thing there is being patient. Farmers have a job to do, they have families to feed. Watch out for the heavy equipment, they're a little bit slower than average traffic and they certainly have the right to be there especially moving their equipment around, getting it ready for the winter."

 

Questions, comments or story ideas? Email us at news@discoverairdrie.com