Provincial police say last year was one of the deadliest on Ontario roads, waterways, and snowmobile trails.
Figures released Monday show 343 people died on OPP-patrolled roads in 2017, up from 307 deaths the previous year.
Inattentive driving was blamed for 83 deaths, speed was linked to 75 deaths, not wearing a seatbelt was a factor in 49 deaths, and alcohol or drugs were identified as a related cause in 46 deaths.
"The OPP is saddened and disappointed to see 2017 mark one of the worst years in recent history for fatalities on and off the road," said OPP Commissioner Vince Hawkes. "As is the case every year, the majority of these deaths were preventable and attributed to poor driving behaviours. Until all drivers respect and observe road, off-road and marine laws that are designed to keep us all safe, these tragic deaths will continue."
Deaths involving snowmobiles reached an all-time high with 29 people losing their lives on the machines, up from 16 in 2016. Excessive speed, loss of control, and driver inattention were the primary causes of these deaths, according to police.
There was a ten year high in the number of deaths involving motorcycles and transport trucks last year. According to police, 48 motorcyclists were killed in 2017 compared to 36 the previous year. There were 91 people killed in 76 collisions involving tractor trailers. That number is up from 77 deaths in 2016.
There was an eight-year high in the number of boating fatalities last year, with 31 deaths reported. Police said the leading factor in those deaths was people falling overboard without a life jacket.
A total of 22 people died in off-road vehicle collisions last year, the same number that were killed in similar incidents in 2016.
Meanwhile, the number of pedestrians killed last year was down with only 27 deaths compared to 39 in 2016.