OPP report four deaths, 8,377 traffic citations issued over long weekend

Four deaths occurred and 8,377 traffic citations were issued over the Civic Holiday Long Weekend, according to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

Throughout the ‘Move Over’ campaign running from Friday, Aug. 2 to Monday, Aug. 5, 2019, the OPP laid 355 charges against drivers who were in a position to slow down and (when safe to do so) change lanes for emergency vehicles or tow trucks parked on the roadside, but failed to do so.

Aggressive driving accounted for the majority of the 8,377 traffic offence charges laid over the weekend: OPP officers charged 4,837 drivers with speeding, and 148 drivers with stunt driving/racing.

Two men, aged 29 and 37, were killed in separate motor vehicle collisions on OPP-patrolled roads over the long weekend. According to the OPP, driver inattention and excessive speed were the primary causes in the incidents. An additional two men, aged 27 and 41, were killed in separate off-road vehicle collisions. The OPP reported loss of control and excessive speed as primary causes, and alcohol being a factor in one of the incidents.

Loss of control and excessive speed were contributing factors in nine of the year’s 12 off-road vehicle deaths, and alcohol/drug use was a factor in at least three of the incidents, according to the OPP. Additionally, over half of the people killed in off-road vehicle accidents were not wearing helmets.

The OPP encourages Ontarians to exercise positive influence on family members who drive off-road vehicles by reminding them that “those who do not wear a helmet, drive under the influence of alcohol/drugs and are not mindful of speed are the off-roaders who are least likely to make it home safely to their families at the end of their ride.”