The Ontario Provincial Police is urging drivers and other road users to make safety a priority as people head out for the final long weekend of the summer.
Police say officers will be highly visible across the province as they target motorists engaging in dangerous behaviour on what is expected to be one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.
As of mid-August, 214 people have died on OPP-patrolled roads this year. Police say speeding, alcohol or drug use, driver inattention and failure to wear a seatbelt remain the leading factors in road deaths year after year.
“Despite OPP officers working 24/7 across the province to keep roads safe this year, drivers and passengers have contributed to a significant number of preventable road deaths,” the service said in a statement.
The OPP is reminding drivers and passengers that they are key partners in road safety and should not hesitate to call 911 to report impaired or dangerous drivers. Police say such calls can make roads safer for everyone and even save lives.
The service is also asking boaters, paddlers and off-road users to take precautions on waterways and trails, noting that lifejackets and helmets greatly improve the chances of surviving a serious incident.
With children and students returning to class next week, the OPP says the Labour Day long weekend is a good time for all road users to recommit to following traffic laws to help keep Ontario’s roads safe.
Police say they remain committed to public safety on more than 130,000 kilometres of roadway and nearly 100,000 kilometres of waterways and trails across the province.
