Ontario Traffic Deaths Exceed 400 for the First Time in 15 Years
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) report that 2023 was a historically tragic year on OPP-patrolled roads.
A total of 411 people were killed in collisions, marking the first time fatalities have exceeded 400 since 2007.
“As the years have gone by, numbers have been increasing,” said Sgt. Kerry Schmidt, with OPP.
According to OPP data, last year saw 411 fatal crashes on OPP-patrolled roadways, including pedestrian deaths involving motor vehicles. This represents 52 more deaths than the previous year and the highest number reported since 2007.
OPP’s west region is the most impacted, with 106 deaths, 52 of which occurred in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
Police attribute the rise in fatalities to leading factors such as reckless driving, distracted driving, and alcohol.
“We are up about 30 percent in impaired driving crashes, particularly in the GTA,” said Sgt. Kerry Schmidt.
Earlier this month, OPP’s Highway Safety Division announced mandatory alcohol testing at all traffic stops in the GTA, regardless of the reason for being pulled over. Police say this measure aims to curb drunk driving.
“These numbers can come down dramatically. We’re doing everything we can, but we can’t do it alone,” Schmidt added.
The OPP patrol more than 127,000 kilometers of provincial roadway and emphasize that drivers must take responsibility for their safety.
In Wellington County, OPP reported an 80 percent increase in fatal collisions from 2022 to 2023. Nineteen people were killed on roadways in 2023, compared to 13 in 2022.
In Norfolk County, there was a decrease in fatal collisions, with eight people killed on roadways last year, down from ten in 2022.
Perth County also saw a decline in fatal collisions, with seven people killed in 2023 compared to nine in 2022.
Deaths decreased in Brant County as well, with five people killed in 2023, down from eight in 2022.
During Canada Road Safety Week, from May 14 to May 20, the OPP will join police services nationwide to target behaviors that endanger drivers, passengers, and other road users.
