As the Victoria Day weekend approaches, the Ontario Provincial Police is reminding drivers to show extra caution on the roads, especially with increased traffic volumes across the province.
“This w
eekend is normally the opening of the summer driving season,” said Derek Rogers, OPP West Region media relations officer. “People are going out to cottages or other places, and our hope is that they get there safely.”
Rogers told the OPP would be stepping up patrols throughout London and the surrounding cities in the coming weeks, targeting impaired driving, aggressive or distracted driving, and seatbelt offense.
OPP officers laid more than 12,000 charges province-wide during the Victoria Day weekend of 2023, thousands of them for speeding, impaired driving and other dangerous behavior. The numbers were higher in 2024, with more than 14,700 traffic-related charges laid during Canada Road Safety Week, which coincided with the long weekend.
Long weekend (typical scene during rush hour)
“All these things are preventable,” Rogers said. “When a person decides to speed, drive under the influence or get into a vehicle while intoxicated, they’re not only putting their own life at risk, they’re putting all of us at risk, too.”
He added many of the most severe crashes OPP officers respond to are what police call the “Big Four”: speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving and seat belts not being worn. Officers say enforcement over the long weekend isn’t about writing tickets, it’s about keeping people alive. Rogers is urging motorists to drive more slowly, leave your destination a little earlier, and not use cellphones or other hand-held devices on the trip.
“It’s not all about you,” he said. “It’s about your family, your passengers, and the people you share the road with.”
If you have questions or concerns about the weekend, contact Derek Rogers at derek.rogers@opp.ca or (519-652-4161).
