'What will stay with me ... is the scream': police share traumatic experiences

"What will stay with me for the rest of my life is the scream the man let out when he got to the crash," wroteCst. Vanessa DeMerchant."This father had just lost his daughter."

DeMerchant is one of several Mountiesfrom Atlantic Canadawritingon an RCMPweb pageabout traumatic experiences they have had on the job.

The project is part of a national campaign, run throughThe Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police,called Operation Impact. It's aimed at getting drivers to focus on the importance of safe, sober driving.

Police are also sharing stories and real-time information about stop checks on Twitter, using #DontDrinkAndDrive.

According to the RCMP, impaired driving is the No. 1criminal cause of death in Canada.

Police are urging people to keep the following tips in mind before they hit the roads this weekend:

• Don't drink and drive. Ever.
• Use seatbelts and child restraints every time you travel in a car, no matter how short the trip.
• Pay attention at all times, refrain from the use of mobile hand-held devices and/or aggressive or high-risk driving behaviours which may lead to a collision.

Operation Impact runs through Canada'sThanksgiving holiday weekend. It began as a single-day campaign aimed at increasing seat belt use across the country.

Several SaskatchewanRCMPdetachments and police services are taking part.