(ORILLIA, ON) – The more than 33,000 road collisions on Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) patrolled roads last winter has the OPP asking road users to be part of the solution to reduce the number of preventable collisions over the 2014-2015 winter.
Poor driving behaviour – not poor weather or road conditions – was a primary contributing factor in many of last winter’s single and multi-vehicle crashes, taking an unrelenting toll on road users, the movement of traffic and the provincial social costs associated with motor vehicle collisions.
Between December 1, 2013 and March 31, 2014 a total of 33,334 collisions occurred on OPP-patrolled roads compared to 25,953 collisions over the same four-month period in 2012-2013. The crashes resulted in deaths and numerous serious injuries. Among the injured were OPP officers who responded to these crash scenes and whose cruisers were struck by drivers who failed to adjust their speed to the conditions.
“The safety of our roads is always a top priority and we continue to work closely with our road safety partners to promote safe and responsible winter practices. Ontario winters can be challenging for drivers. Be sure to check road conditions on MTO’s Ontario 511 Traveller Information Services. Please stay alert, slow down and drive according to road and weather conditions.†— Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation
Because drivers and passengers have many eyes on the road, they are in the favourable position of exerting an even stronger influence on reducing the number of collisions if they too take part in the OPP’s social media dialogue on safe winter driving.
The OPP is asking road users to tell them what driving behaviours they believe Ontario drivers need to change in order to help prevent another chaotic winter on our roads. Go to the OPP’s Corporate Facebook page and share your views, observations and be part of the solution for a safer winter on our roads: https://www.facebook.com/ontarioprovincialpolice?ref=bookmarks
“There are 3 key elements to safe winter driving: Stay alert, slow down and stay in control. The driver is in complete control of these elements. There are too many preventable collisions during winter months; I’m asking you to slow down and anticipate poor road conditions – the life you save could be your own†– A/Inspector Wayne Thompson, Detachment Commander, South Bruce OPP.