Dangerous and distracted drivers targeted by police in Mississauga, Brampton and across Ontario

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Published September 1, 2023 at 11:53 am

Burlington and Hamilton make list of most dangerous cities for driving in Ontario

Dangerous drivers and those who don’t buckle up are once again being targeted this Labour Day weekend by highway police in Mississauga, Brampton and across Ontario.

OPP say they’ll be out in full force on the province’s highways and in smaller municipalities in efforts to keep the roads and waterways safe during the last long weekend of the summer.

OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt, of the Highway Safety Division, said in a minute-long video posted to X (formerly Twitter) that aggressive driving, impaired driving, distracted driving and not wearing seatbelts are known as the “big four” and are responsible for more than half of the 946 deaths in road collisions investigated by OPP the past five years in Ontario.

He added that 239 people have died this year alone across Ontario on highways and in smaller towns patrolled by OPP.

That’s why OPP officers will be patrolling in greater numbers over the long weekend, Schmidt said, as people head north to cottage country, take day trips to the beach or head into the city.

“If you’re going to be out on the roads, please make sure you’re making good decisions,” Schmidt said in the video (see below).

Schmidt pointed out that over the Labour Day weekend in 2022, five people were killed — two on the roads, two on the water and the other off-road on a trail.

“Wherever you are, please share the road, use your safety equipment, focus on the task of driving, obey the speed limits and never drive impaired,” he said.

Peel Regional Police also remind motorists and those planning long weekend outings on the water to be safe, first and foremost.

They provided some safety tips in a post to social media (see below).

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