OPP steps up enforcement on aggressive and impaired drivers on provincial highways
Posted July 27, 2010 6:49 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO – This year 163 people have been killed in crashes on provincial highways.
That number is a 6 per cent increase from the same time in 2009.
The OPP say they are now stepping up enforcement against aggressive drivers, impaired drivers and those not wearing their seat belts.
The OPP says the spike in fatalities could be the result in the great summer weather, which has more people out on the highway, leading to more aggressive driving and impaired driving.
Sgt Dave Woodford told 680News impaired driving has been a real issue this summer with alcohol related fatal crashes up 21 per cent over last year.
“With the hot weather people seem to have one or two beers and sometimes one or two gets into three or four. They think they’re alright and they end up getting behind the wheel of a vehicle.” said Sgt. Woodford.
There has also been a 22 per cent increase this year in traffic deaths related to not being buckled up.
“It’s just really disappointing when you hear someone getting ejected out of a vehicle and killed in a crash as a result of not having their seat belt on. There’s just no excuse for it.” said Sgt. Woodford.
Police are also watching for children in vehicles not properly buckled up in child seats.
So far 46 people have been killed on provincial highways in July, an increase from the 28 people killed at the same time in 2009.
