June has been a deadly month on Ontario highways

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It’s been a deadly month on Ontario highways. Since the beginning of June, 28 people have died, and Ontario Provincial Police say it needs to stop now. They launched their Canada Day week long initiative to make sure people drive safely during the holiday.

At today’s launch the OPP asked Cara Epp from Brampton to speak. She lost her 14 year old daughter 10 years ago. She explained how a distracted driver ran Cierra over and killed her instantly. “He was fiddling with his coffee, trying to get it open. Before he’d taken his first sip, my daughter had first the front wheel then the back wheel of a van crush her body. When the driver was flagged down, he had said he thought he had run over garbage”

OPP Chief Superintendent Chuck Cox says its the same factors over again. “Our investigations have revealed the same factors time and time again. Aggressive driving, impaired driving, distracted driving and those that still neglect to wear their seatbelt. Combined we call these the big 4, the four that take the lives of those who should not have died”

The warning to be careful on highways came just hours after a deadly crash in Toronto. It happened just before 3 a.m. on the Eastbound 401 near Dixie Road. Police say an SUV hit a car that was either stopped, or moving slowly and blocking part of the right lane of the highway. The SUV flipped, but the driver suffered only minor injuries. A 25 year old woman from Toronto driving the car was killed.

Another announcement at the launch today is a reminder that the rules on the HOV lanes will change starting Monday. You will have to have a minimum of 3 people in your car – not just 2 – to help congestion during the Pan Am Games. If a driver is caught in the HOV lanes disobeying the new rule they can face a 110 dollar fine and 3 demerit points.