The Ontario Provincial Police are calling this past Labour Day long weekend “the deadliest” in 20 years.
Police report 12 road fatalities, one marine fatality and one off-road vehicle death in OPP-patrolled jurisdictions over the long weekend.
Tragically, police note, one of the fatal incidents involved a single-vehicle crash in Northwestern Ontario that took the lives of four of the vehicle occupants.
The OPP also conducted a robust anti-distracted driving campaign over the long weekend through traditional and social media.
“In spite of these efforts, the OPP laid close to 800 distracted/inattentive driving charges against drivers who jeopardized the safety of innocent men, women and children who took to the roads to enjoy the last summer long weekend before the start of a new school year,” the OPP state in a press release.
This latest campaign brings the total number of distracted driving charges laid to date this year to over 8,800.
