OPP release traffic stats ahead of long weekend and return to school

Ontario Provincial Police have released updated driving statistics ahead of the long weekend.

By the end of August, OPP officers had responded to 165 fatal crashes on OPP-patrolled highways. 179 people have died.

“For so many of the innocent people killed in these collisions, there’s a driver whose careless behaviour contributed to this senseless loss of life and the lifelong impact left with the surviving families,” said Chief Supt. Rohan Thompson.

“With children and other students travelling to and from school on foot, riding a bike, on a bus or other vehicle beginning next week, please slow down, don’t drive impaired and pay full attention to the road, sidewalks and crosswalks.”

According to OPP, speed was a contributing factor in 32 of these fatalities.

Driver inattention was linked to 28 deaths and another 28 deaths involved alcohol and/or drugs.

Lack of seat belt use in both drivers and passengers accounted for 34 deaths.

26 motorcyclists have died, compared to 16 at this time last year.

Pedestrian fatalities are also up, at 27 deaths this year compared to 21 last year.

Six cyclists have died after being struck by vehicles.