OPP patrolling roads, waterways and trails this long weekend
Ontario Provincial Police want you to make safety your priority this Labour Day long weekend.
The OPP says dangerous driving behaviours can turn a long weekend adventure into a life-changing tragedy in an instant.
They say slow down, stay alert, drive sober, and buckle up, adding choices made behind the wheel affect everyone sharing the road.
Across Ontario over the last 10 years, police say the Labour Day weekend has seen more collisions and fatalities on OPP-patrolled roads, trails and waterways than any other long weekend.
“Since 2015, there have been 69 collisions and 76 fatalities over Labour Day weekends alone,” states a release. “Nearly all fatalities can be attributed to impaired driving, speeding, inattentiveness and not wearing a seatbelt or helmet, or wearing one improperly. On our waterways, nearly all fatalities can be attributed to not wearing a lifejacket.”
Along with patrolling roads, trails and waterways, the OPP will be conducting RIDE programs, responding to traffic complaints, and enforcing the law, when needed, to address unsafe driving behaviours.
On the Labour Day long weekend last year, the Northeast Region OPP laid 790 charges, with the vast majority (485) for speeding.
A dozen impaired driving charges, ten stunt driving and five distracted driving counts were also filed.
Richard Coffinhttps://www.mynorthbaynow.com/Richard Coffin has been a reporter and news anchor on the radio in North Bay for over 25 years. From premiers to people in the neighbourhood, he enjoys connecting with newsmakers and writing stories that matter to area listeners on a variety of topics including healthcare, education, politics, sports and more.
