KEEPING ONTARIO ROADS, TRAILS AND WATERWAYS SAFE OVER THE LABOUR DAY WEEKEND
- OPP RESULTS

AURORA, ON, Sept. 7 /CNW/ - At the outset of the weekend, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) committed to be out in full-force to keep OPP patrolled roads, trails and waterways safe. Commissioner Lewis appealed to the public to play a critical role in assisting the OPP with this commitment.

Over the weekend the OPP launched an enforcement initiative, targeting aggressive drivers, impaired drivers and motorists not wearing a seatbelt. OPP also focused on marine operators especially those who fail to have the proper safety equipment and operating a marine vessel while drinking.

During the Long weekend initiative which began on Friday September 3, 2010 and ended on Monday September 6, 2010 OPP officers laid 115 impaired driving charges as well as 5,763 speeding, 470 seatbelt and 64 stunt driving charges.

Three people died on OPP roads over the weekend, one a single motor vehicle collision in the Napanee area, another in an intersection related collision in the City of Kawartha Lakes and another in Dufferin County where speed was a factor. This is a decrease from the 4 fatalities on OPP patrolled highways and trails during the Labour Day weekend in 2009.

Three people lost their lives on the waterways over the weekend. In one case a canoe capsized on Skeleton Lake in Muskoka and two 18yr old males drowned; they were not wearing a personal floatation device (PFD) at the time.

This year to date, 221 people have needlessly lost their lives on OPP patrolled roads compared to 207 in 2009. This represents a 6.8% increase over last year. Also, 20 people have died in marine related incidents compared to 28 in 2009, a 28.6% decrease. "Each one of these deaths was preventable" said Commissioner Lewis. "The untold pain and sorrow that these tragedies have visited on these families will remain the number one reason behind the OPP's unwavering and uncompromising commitment to highway and marine safety" he added.

During the weekend, the OPP aircraft was also utilized for traffic surveillance to assist the officers on the highways. This targeted enforcement resulted in the following charges; 95 speeding; 4 stunt driving; 2 following too close; 1 drive while suspended; 3 criminal code charges; and other charges under different provincial statutes. "The Aircraft Enforcement Program continues to be an effective tool in the OPP Provincial Traffic Safety Program" said Deputy Commissioner Larry Beechey, Provincial Commander responsible for Traffic Safety. "Patrolling OPP highways and roadways from the sky provides our officers a greater ability to pro-actively target identified problem areas for enforcement" he added.

The end of the Labour Day long weekend traditionally means an increase of traffic on the roads as well as a return of school bus traffic. The OPP are asking drivers to continue to focus on their driving while reminding them to be aware of school buses and the community safety zones.

For further information: Contacts by OPP Region: Highway Safety Division: Sergeant Dave Woodford, Phone: [phone]; Central Region: Sergeant Paulo DiFonte, Phone: [phone]; East Region: Sergeant Kristine Rae, Phone: [phone]; Northeast Region: Inspector Mark Andrews, Phone: [phone]; Northwest Region: Sergeant Shelley Garr, Phone: [phone]; West Region: Sgt Dave Rektor, Phone: [phone]