Ahead of the long weekend and Canada Road Safety Week, the OPP released some unsettling numbers.
Provincial police report that 107 people have died so far this year in vehicle collisions on OPP patroled roads–the highest number in 10 years.
The OPP note poor and careless driving behaviours including impaired or distracted driving, as well as speeding, have contributed to the majority of the fatalities that occurred before the second week of May.
They say 25 lives were lost in crashes linked to driver inattention, which is up 79 per cent over the same period last year, while alcohol and drug-related fatalities were up 36 per cent.
The OPP have responded to 88 fatal collisions so far this year, compared to 75 at the same time last year.
The provincial police stress this data is the latest reminder to road users that they are sharing the road with drivers who see the risks they take behind the wheel as inconsequential to themselves and those around them – something every Ontarian should take seriously.
Written by: Kennedy Freeman with files from the Canadian Press
