MONTREAL, Que. — Montreal police report increased spring surveillance has reduced the number of fatal traffic accidents in the Montreal area.

A general citywide campaign called Operation Chauffard, aimed at raising public awareness of speeding and other infractions began Mar. 24 and will continue until Apr. 13. As well, police hope a targeted effort on Notre Dame Street east of Lorimier Avenue (the stretch known by some as ‘the speedway’), will be equally successful.

The later campaign aims to quell the more than 1,000 accidents that have occurred here over the last two years.

“We had targeted Notre Dame Street in 1998 and 1999 for four days each time,” says Bonneau. “But this is the first time we’ve done it in such a structured way.”

Notre Dame was chosen because of the enormous volume of traffic and an increase in the number of accidents.

“About 24 million cars and 300,000 containers per year travel on Notre Dame,” says Bonneau. “In the last two years we had 1,033 accidents, which resulted in four deaths and 328 serious injuries.”

About 50 per cent of all traffic accidents are caused by speeders and people who do not respect traffic signs, explains Bonneau.

As part of Operation Chauffard police will be stepping up their patrols at intersections and school zones and handing out tickets for such violations as speeding, running red lights and failing to respect stop signs.

“This kind of operation is a preventive measure and is designed to help motorists break bad driving habits.”