Careless drivers beware

OPP News Release

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The Ontario Provincial Police will be concentrating on aggressive drivers, street racers, those not wearing seatbelts and motorists who drive while impaired by drugs or alcohol throughout the Canada Day weekend.

Boaters and ATV riders should also be aware that the OPP marine and trail units will be patrolling the waterways and trails across the province. Four people died on highways patrolled by the OPP during the Canada Day Weekend last year that was up from one in 2005. There was one marine fatality in both 2006 and 2005.

“We will have every available cruiser, motorcycle and boat on patrol this weekend, as we have every day, seven days a week,” OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino said. “The driving public doesn’t appear to be getting the message about slowing down. In the last two weeks, we have seen three people charged after an incident on Highway 400 that took a truck driver’s life. Eleven people were injured in another crash, and Wednesday three people died as a result of a collision on Highway 401 in Toronto. In every case, speed was a factor and in the Wednesday crash, two people not wearing seatbelts were killed when they were ejected from the car,” Fantino added. “These are all tragic, unnecessary human-caused situations that affect those involved, their families and friends.”

“We have started retrofitting our black and white cruisers with new light bars that contain red and blue lights,” Chief Superintendent Bill Grodzinski, Provincial Traffic Commander, said. “This will give our cruisers and motorcycles greater visibility both during the day and at night, especially on the major highways, and will make it safer for our officers when they are stopped on the shoulder of the road. Officers will also be watching for motorists who don’t obey ‘move over’ legislation, which calls for vehicles to, where possible and safe to do so, move one lane to the left or slow down when passing a vehicle parked on the shoulder of the road with its emergency lights flashing.”


“The Ontario Provincial Police is on patrol to ensure that you and your family remain safe,” explains Chief Superintendent Ken Miller, Regional Commander – North East Region. “Our goal is for a fatality free Canada Day weekend. Please make it your goal too – slow down and let patience be your guide.”

The fine for not wearing a seatbelt is $110 and two demerit points for drivers. The fine for failing to move to the left is $490.

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