The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is pointing to speeding drivers as the number one cause in road fatalities so far this year, with the death toll in this category 76 per cent higher than this time last year.

As of June 26, 2017 speeding has been linked with 30 road deaths on OPP-patrolled roads, compared to 17 in 2016.

During the Canada Day long weekend, OPP officers throughout the province will set their sights on speeding and all other forms of aggressive driving. These behaviours include following too closely, unsafe passing and lane changes, failing to yield right-of-way, road rage and other dangerous, high-risk driving behaviours.

Excessive speed continues to threaten the safety of other road users with more than 1,400 charges so far this year laid by the OPP against drivers clocked at 50 km/h or more over the posted speed limit. "Last year, our officers laid more than 240,000 speeding charges against drivers who took the lives of other road users into their own hands," said OPP Deputy Commissioner Brad Blair.
Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation, reminds Ontarians "All drivers who put others on the road at risk by driving aggressively - could face a jail term of up to six month, fines of up to $10,000 and prolonged licence suspension upon conviction."

source: media release, Ontario Provincial Police