OPP say road fatalities headed for 10-year high
There have been more than 107 fatalities on Ontario Provincial Police patrolled roads so far this year.
It's the first time since 2012 that the number of people killed in road collisions in the province reached 100 by the second week of May.
Just in northeastern Ontario, 20 people have died as a result of 16 different crashes, OPP Sgt. Carlo Berardi told CTV News in an email.
"We’re actually up 100 per cent from this time last year -- we’re at 20 fatalities already, which is very disappointing,” said OPP Staff Sgt. Tyler Croxall about the northeastern statistics in an interview.
Croxall said poor driving behaviours have been behind many of the crashes.
Joel Quenville has been a driving instructor in Sudbury for more than three decades. In that time, Quenville has seen distracted driving become more deadly than impaired driving.
"In the 34 years that I’ve been teaching, cars have been getting safer and safer but the accidents haven’t been going down," he said.
"It's an attitude that we have to try to change and that’s what I try to do in the class -- try to change the attitude."
For years, impaired driving was the No. 1 killer, followed by drowsiness. Today, both have been replaced by distracted driving.
"I’ve told students that the fine is like $1,000, $2,000, $3,000, (but) the kids… don’t seem to think it's that serious," Quenville said.
"It’s a way of life -- sometimes they say that."
Two driving behaviours stand out in this year's road deaths. Fatalities linked to driver inattention are up 79 per cent compared to 2021. In total, 25 lives have been lost to date, compared to 14 last year.
Alcohol/drug-related fatalities are also up, with the 15 people killed compared to 11 deaths at this time in 2021.
Since this is Canada Road Safety Week, drivers should expect more enforcement on the province's roadways.
"Including the long weekend in particular, there will be additional enforcement there will be additional vehicle stops," said Croxall.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.