The Ontario Provincial Police are reminding motorists and families to make safety a priority as they travel to Thanksgiving celebrations this long weekend.
The OPP is joining police services across Canada for Operation Impact, an annual national traffic safety campaign led by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police. The initiative focuses on high-risk driving behaviours that contribute to serious collisions and supports Canada's Road Safety Strategy.
According to the OPP, Thanksgiving weekends have recorded the second-highest number of fatalities among all long weekends in Ontario over the past decade. Last year, 13 people died in collisions on roads patrolled by the OPP during the Thanksgiving weekend.
Alcohol and drug use have been the leading factors in fatalities over the past 10 years, while failing to use safety equipment, including seatbelts, helmets and lifejackets, has also contributed to deaths.
As part of Operation Impact, OPP officers will be patrolling highways and roads across Ontario, focusing on both education and enforcement.
Officers will be targeting impaired driving involving alcohol or drugs, as well as driving while fatigued, aggressive driving, distracted driving and improper use of seatbelts and child car seats.
Police will also be patrolling trails and waterways throughout the long weekend, looking for unsafe behaviour and promoting responsible use.
The OPP is encouraging everyone to plan ahead, arrange a sober ride when needed, avoid distractions behind the wheel and ensure everyone is properly secured before setting out.
Police say making responsible choices can help prevent collisions and ensure families and friends reach their Thanksgiving destinations safely.
