Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Central Region Chief Superintendent Dwight Peer is asking the public for their help to ensure safer roads in response to a significant increase in fatal collisions on OPP-patrolled roads in Central Region.
Members of the OPP in Central Region have investigated 7,565 road collisions this year; 41 were fatal, compared to 23 this time last year – that’s a 78% increase, and 864 collisions resulted in personal injury. Seven motorcyclists have also lost their lives this year, compared to three this time last year, on OPP Central Region-patrolled roads.
Safe, defensive driving is paramount to reducing the number of fatalities and serious injuries on our roads and highways. Sharing the road safely is every driver’s responsibility. This cannot be overstated when motorcyclists, cyclists, pedestrians and other vulnerable road users are involved.
The top contributing factors for injury and death in roadway collisions continue to be speed, inattention, impairment and improper or lack of restraint use. While the OPP remains committed to saving lives on our roads, drivers and other road users can significantly contribute to safer roads by avoiding taking unnecessary risks and complying with all traffic laws.
In response to this disturbing increase, Central Region Commander, Chief Superintendent Dwight Peer, is appealing to the public to adopt responsible and safe driving habits to reduce tragedy on the roadway in a video posted on OPP’s Central Region socials.
“I am asking for your help to stop any more tragic and unnecessary loss of life on our roads. Our officers are actively patrolling to ensure safe driving behaviour, but we need you to drive like lives depend on it, because they do! […] Always keep your head on a swivel and remain vigilant for everything, and everyone, around you. Let’s work together to ensure everyone makes it home safely,” according to Chief Superintended Dwight Peer, Commander, OPP Central Region.
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Am I the only one who finds this ironic? Some actual enforcement of speed limits by the OPP would be helpful, and most welcome.
I’ve been asking the Town of Huntsville (initial letter sent Nov 2021) to replace current speed limit signage with NEW speed limit signage. I’ve been informed “will take time, maybe a year.”
I believe I missed the memo informing me 60+kms is acceptable for hwy signage stating 40kms and 80+kms is acceptable for hwy signage stating 60kms … you catch my drift.
Daily I observe “in town and out of town” drivers “whipping past” at rates of speed that are clearly alarming. WHERE are the local police?
I was picking up debris along my road yesterday and a female officer stopped and asked me to help her locate the “speeding black porsche?” Should I assist when I have been failed by Mayor + Council + Police while fighting “speeders” on my own?
Case in Point: When following speeders to get their license plate, make + model of vehicle, anything valid to report them to police … I receive “outbursts of laughter + mocking” “expletives” “flipping the bird” “vehicles aimed in my direction” “stares + glares” from passersby w/ no knowledge of the speeder nor their offences that I’m attempting to report to the police OR the speeder will drive to the Huntsville police station and report me for following them!
When I’m saving turtles, deer, any critter from the road I am mocked, I am placed in jeopardy due to the fact “who the he.l do I think I am to SLOW a driver down?” JUST to save a chippy a squirrel a fox a deer a turtle … I must be CRAZY!
The entire train line of “speeding drivers” I’ve halted to SAVE an animal’s life will speed past me w/ their flailing gesticulations, gestures, tsk tsk looks, blaring horns, total indifference, etc AND I’m the crazy one?
Here’s a question: Why the lack of media coverage-Thanksgiving wknd 2021? Fact; male from Brampton travelling 120+kms in a 60kms zone on Brunel Road slams into a vehicle making a right turn onto Muskoka Road 10 (I was at the scene) lone female officer responds. Major accident caused by a DUI male driver and his name withheld?
Time for major changes AND decreasing speeding limits TODAY is #1 for me!