Speeding and alcohol contribute to long weekend fatalities

OPP News Release

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ORILLIA - Of the six people who died on roads patrolled by the Ontario Provincial Police over the Canada Day Weekend, four, including one motorcyclist, were related to speeding; one person wasn't wearing a seatbelt and three were alcohol related.

Over the same weekend last year, there were seven deaths on OPP-patrolled roads.

In addition, officers stopped three separate incidents of street racing, two on Highway 400 yesterday and four motorcycles that were travelling up to 200 kilometres per hour on the Queen Elizabeth Way in the Toronto area Friday. There have been 225 traffic deaths so far in 2007, up from 186 at the same time last year despite the fact the OPP has issued 21,986 more speeding tickets this year than in 2006.

"Drivers still don't seem to be getting the message," OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino said. "It's disconcerting and frustrating to see that some irresponsible individuals continue to ignore the rules of the road and put themselves and other motorists at risk.

"The good news is that the majority of the driving public appears to be as fed up as we are. We received numerous calls over the weekend from drivers identifying street racers and others who were driving too aggressively for the traffic conditions. We appreciate their help and encourage them to continue to call (*)OPP ((*)677) or 911 and let us know about these drivers. We will continue to crack down 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

In one incident, on Highway 401 westbound near Cambridge motorists called (*)OPP to report an erratic driver. Cambridge OPP intercepted the car and charged the driver with impaired driving when his breathalyzer reading was 170 mgs, twice the legal limit. He was also charged with possession of marijuana. The driver is currently under six separate suspensions and this was his fourth impaired charge.

"In Central Region alone, the OPP laid 973 speeding charges," Chief Superintendent Bill Grodzinski, Commander of the Highway Traffic Section, said. "Of that total, 48 were charged with being at least 50 kilometres over the limit; the highest was 67 kilometres over. Under new legislation coming into effect soon, we will be able to seize those vehicles and issue immediate license suspensions for up to seven days. Perhaps then people will slow down and stop street racing."

On the water, there was also one confirmed drowning on the weekend while three other people are still missing.

The OPP is responsible for more than 922,752 square kilometres of land and 110,398 square kilometres of waterways.

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