OPP see increase in traffic-related charges over last Labour Day weekend, Report

The number of charges laid on OPP-patrolled roads increased by 4% during the Labour Day long weekend compared to last year.

Members of the OPP Highway Safety Division said Tuesday that officers laid a total of 6,131 traffic charges over the long weekend related to speeding, racing, seatbelts, and impaired driving, an increase of 4 percent compared to the same period last year.

In 2014, OPP officers laid a total of 5,591 traffic charges over the Labour Day long weekend.

A majority of the charges laid in both 2015 and 2014 were related to speeding; 5,494 in 2015 and 4,974 in 2014.

Provincial Police said while the total number of traffic charges laid this Labour Day long weekend was higher compared to last year, the number of distracted driving charges dropped.

“The number of distracted driving charges was down by 38 percent over the same time last year, but still police report laying 407 charges against inattentive drivers,” said an OPP release.

Police also said that between the beginning of the year to September 6th, the number of collisions caused by distracted drivers had risen 20 percent compared to the same period last year.

Four people died over the weekend in two separate crashes on OPP-patrolled roads and police say alcohol was a factor in both collisions.

The numbers:

Speeding Charges: 5494 (2015) – 4974 (2014)
Racing Charges: 77 (2015) – 67 (2014)
Seatbelts Charges: 464 (2015) – 459 (2014)
Impaired Charges: 96 (2015) – 91 (2014)

Agencies/Canadajournal