OPP participate in national traffic safety initiative during long weekend

Strong attention this weekend will applied by Ontario Provincial Police on high-risk driving behaviours, such as aggressive driving, impaired driving and distracted driving.

It is part of a national traffic safety initiative known as Operation Impact.

OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt says they want motorists to be safe this weekend.

“Please do your part. Make sure you are operating your vehicle safely, responsibly,” says Sgt. Schmidt.

“If you’re a passenger as well, being a good passenger and sharing the road with everyone from motorcycles, pedestrians, bicycles and vehicles of all shapes and sizes. Please do your part as you gather together to spend time with family and friends.”

OPP say 269 people have died on provincial highways this year.

Fifty-nine of the fatalities are attributed to speeding or aggressive driving.

Another 38 died as a result of distracted driving-related incidents.

Twenty-eight people have died in collisions where alcohol or drugs were involved.

“That is 269 people who will not be joining their family and friends this Thanksgiving long weekend. And for the most part, those fatalities are very preventable,” says Schmidt.