Portage la Prairie RCMP released statistics today from its involvement in the Manitoba-wide police traffic initiative Operation Impact, which ran over Thanksgiving Weekend.

Constable Sean O'Keefe says over the four-day program police came in contact with 56 motorists and issued 55 tickets for aggressive speeding. Police say one driver was seen traveling 160 km/h in a 100 km/h zone. The 20-year-old male was issued a $835.75 fine and charged for careless driving. He was also issued a Notice of Serious Offence, requiring the accused to explain to Manitoba Public Insurance a valid reason to retain his license.

"Incidents such as these put all motorists at risk of serious injury," the RCMP says.

Other enforced infractions during the blitz include: One motorist charged for passing on the right; two charged for failing to yield to the right-of-way of other drivers; three charged for failing to have proper insurance on their vehicles.

Cst. O'Keefe adds Operation Impact wanted to target aggressive driving behaviours such as speeding, following too closely, unsafe lane changes at higher speeds and passing on the right lane. Officers also looked for careless driving and signs of intoxication among motorists, O'Keefe adds.

"We see a lot of people on the roads over the holidays, so we want to make sure they are as safe as possible," O'Keefe says. "But motorists can do a lot more than we can by keeping their attention on the road, not picking up that cell phone, refraining from getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol and reducing speed when weather turns bad."