The vast majority of the 1,507 recorded deaths on OPP-patrolled roads between 2011-2015 were preventable, according to a recent report.
“Tragically, most of these fatalities are directly linked to poor behaviours on the road and these are the ones that are preventable," says OPP Deputy Commissioner Brad Blair in a media release.
The OPP says data from the five-year report shows alcohol or drugs contributed to 321 of the deaths, speeding was a factor in 336 of the deaths, inattentive driving led to 408 deaths, and failure to wear a seat belt was a factor in 335 of the deaths.
"We need to see a complete shift in attitude on the part of drivers who do not take these risky behaviours seriously," says Blair. "Passengers also have a role to play by buckling up every single time and dissuading drivers who engage in these dangerous behaviours and jeopardize their safety."
The OPP is collaborating with its policing partners for the national Operation Impact campaign, which will target those four behaviours that lead to loss of life on the roads.