Provincial police had help from eyes above and below to help track down some traffic violators near London.
The West Region OPP recently spent two days conducting a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) enforcement initiative in which officers from Chatham-Kent, Elgin, Middlesex, Oxford, and Wellington partnered together. Members from the OPP's Aviation Service, London Highway Safety Division, Field Support Bureau, and Communications and Technology Services Bureau also helped in the initiative.
During those two days, 51 charges were laid against truck drivers, 23 against drivers of passenger vehicles, while one bus driver was charged with following too close.
Stats Chart. (Photo courtesy of West Region OPP).
In a breakdown of the charges, 30 truck drivers were charged with following too close and seven were charged with distracted driving. Seven passenger vehicles were also caught with the same offence.
Based on the numbers provided by OPP, it appears that drivers behind the wheel of passenger vehicles were more prone to speeding. Fourteen charges were laid against passenger vehicle drivers while none were laid against truck drivers.
When comparing 2019 to 2018, there has been a 94 per cent increase in the number of people killed in crashes involving commercial vehicles in the West Region. According to the OPP, 35 people died in collisions involving commercial vehicles in 2019, and there were 18 fatalities in 2018.
Provincial police said they will continue with road safety enforcement throughout the region.
Thanks to all the #OPP officers that helped out with the Commercial Motor Vehicle enforcement near #ldnont. 51 charges laid on CMV and 23 charges laid on passenger motor vehicles #ChatamOPP #ElginOPP #OxfordOPP #MiddlesexOPP #WellingtonOPP ^ac pic.twitter.com/LzT3b7xY5E
— OPP West Region (@OPP_WR) January 23, 2020