OPP officers were kept busy over the Thanksgiving long weekend, responding to hundreds of collisions and charging thousands of drivers with traffic offences during the Operation Impact Campaign.
The OPP reported three traffic deaths over the weekend.
A 21 year-old pedestrian was killed after being struck by a vehicle while walking along Highway 11, north of Orillia on Sunday, October 13. Two other people, aged 51 and 52 were killed after their pick-up truck was struck by a train near South River on Monday, October 14.
See: Police release names of train collision victims
The OPP responded to 419 motor vehicle collisions, with 72 of the crashes resulting in injuries.
Officers laid more than 6,000 traffic charges during the four-day national campaign. Speeding offences led the list of violations with close to 4,500 speeding charges laid against aggressive drivers. Officers also laid 138 stunt driving and street racing charges against motorists who engaged in speeds in excess of 50 kilometres per hour above the posted speed limit.
Speeding currently leads the list of causal factors in OPP-investigated traffic fatalities with 47 deaths attributed to this dangerous driving behaviour so far this year.
Impaired driving, distracted driving, moving violations, seat belt non-compliance and other related charges made up the balance of the traffic offences.
The OPP wrapped up its 10-day Fall Seat Belt Campaign on Friday. Officers laid 2,329 charges against vehicle occupants who were not wearing their seat belt and drivers who failed to ensure passengers under age 16 were buckled up. Lack of seat belt use is currently the second leading causal factor in fatalities on OPP-patrolled roads, with 45 deaths so far this year.
