Ontario Provincial Police are preparing for some of the heaviest traffic volumes of the year over this Thanksgiving weekend, hoping there won't be an increase to the 208 deaths on OPP-patrolled roads already this year.
Heading into October, the OPP has responded to more than 39,400 motor vehicle collisions, 195 of which were fatal and 5,100 of which resulted in injuries.
Last week marked the 31st motorcyclist's death on OPP-patrolled roads. Among this year's road deaths, 54 people died in 46 collisions that involved a commercial motor vehicle.
"A significant number of these 195 road fatalities could have been avoided," reads an OPP release. "To date, speed has contributed to 51 road deaths. Driver inattention has been linked to 35 fatalities, while lack of seatbelt use among drivers and passengers accounts for the loss of 34 lives. Alcohol and drugs have been a factor in 23 of the deaths."
In its ongoing effort to reduce the number of road fatalities and injuries, over the long weekend, the OPP will join Canadian policing partners for Operation Impact, a national traffic safety campaign that supports Canada's Road Safety Strategy and aims to make Canada's roads the safest in the world.
During the four-day initiative, officers will conduct province-wide targeted enforcement and provide education on alcohol/drug-impaired, aggressive and inattentive/distracted driving, as well as lack of seatbelt use - all main causes of death and injury on Canadian roadways.
