Police cracking down on dangerous driving ahead of unofficial long weekend
With school coming to an end and the unofficial Canada Day long weekend on the horizon, the roads are expected to get busier.
There won't be a formal police blitz on Ontario roads this weekend, that's according to the Ontario Provincial Police - but that doesn't mean drivers won't notice an increased number of patrol units along the highways.
Police are urging drivers to be cautious this weekend, or they could face serious consequences, 'So you can expect to see an increased police presence of traffic enforcement on our major roadways,' said Const. Jesse Nobleman with the Ontario Provincial Police.
While it's not an official blitz, officers will be actively monitoring the roads as people visit family, head to cottages, or travel for a weekend getaway.
Distracted driving and improper seatbelt use are also key focus areas. In 2023, 382 people were killed on OPP-patrolled roads. According to police, most of those deaths were the result of careless or poor decisions made by drivers and passengers.
Among last year's 344 fatal crashes, 95 deaths were caused by speeding, 80 involved an inattentive driver and 53 were linked to alcohol and/or drug use. On top of that, 60 people who died were not wearing seatbelts.
And it's not just on the roads, OPP will also be patrolling the province's waterways this weekend. Boaters are being reminded to take extra precautions, and to always wear a properly-fitted lifejacket.
'We do see tragic incidents where people pass away as a result of a collision and that's why we're out here doing proactive enforcement, trying to get those aggressive and speeding motorists to slow down, as well as impaired drivers of course, get them off the roadway,' continued Const. Nobleman.
Police are also reminding the public that the same laws around impaired driving apply to boats. Officers will be on the lookout for anyone operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol or cannabis.
'There's no sense in risking your safety or the safety of loved ones,' concluded Const. Nobleman.
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