​South Bruce OPP constable Kevin Martin receives lifetime achievement award for traffic safety

South Bruce OPP constable Kevin Martin (above, left, with associate transportation minister Vijay Thanigasalam), community safety officer, has received the Ministry of Transportation Ontario (MTO) award for lifetime achievement for traffic safety. The award was presented last week in North York.

Martin lives in Kincardine with his wife, Cheryl. He has been an officer with the South Bruce OPP detachment since April 25, 2001.

In accepting his award, he noted that he does not advocate for highway safety for the recognition, but because it’s the right thing to do.

“As young officer, I was told that highway safety is a core function,” said Martin. “You sign on and you get your badge, your fancy car and your gun, and away you go to make a difference.”

However, he said it was the human impact that really made him become an advocate for road safety.

“Those fatal collisions, serious collisions, where you see first-hand the firefighters, paramedics, officers, families and the communities ripped apart,” he said. “As a first-responder, you carry that forever, but not as deeply as the community does.

“It doesn’t matter what you’re operating, if you’re in control, you have duty to others. That split-second decision you make can cause a catastrophic incident on the highway, and for me, that loss of life, that deep community impact, that’s why it’s our duty to make our roads safer for others.”
 

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South Bruce OPP constable Kevin Martin (left) with South Bruce OPP inspector Keegan Wilcox, detachment commander, after receiving the MTO award for lifetime achievement for traffic safety; photos courtesy of the South Bruce OPP
 

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Martin thanked the elected officials for creating legislation that makes it better for those in law enforcement.

“Thank you very kindly for this award,” he said. “Now, as a traffic safety advocate, I want to get you out before rush hour!”

“Congratulations to constable Kevin Martin,” said South Bruce OPP inspector Keegan Wilcox, detachment commander. “Your words are full of wisdom, and this award is well-deserved.”