7 traffic deaths, more than 9,100 charges laid over Labour Day weekend in Ontario

Police say aggressive drivers were the biggest culprits as seven people died in traffic collisions and more than 9,100 charges were laid by officers across Ontario over the Labour Day weekend.

Ontario Provincial Police said their officers laid 9,143 traffic/marine and Criminal Code charges throughout the province between last Friday night and Monday.

“It was a tragic Labour Day long weekend on and off the road, with two pedestrians, a motorcyclist and an off-road vehicle driver among the seven traffic fatalities that occurred in separate collisions in OPP jurisdictions,” police said in a news release issued Thursday.

“Aggressive drivers were the most significant offenders, making roads unsafe for the many families and other people travelling throughout the province to take in the last long weekend of summer.”

Of the total charges laid by police, 4,841 — well over half of all charges laid — were for speeding while 124 were for stunt driving.

Stunt driving in Ontario is defined as travelling at:

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• 50 km/h or more over the speed limit where the posted limit is above 80 km/h
• 40 km/h or more over where the limit is 80 km/h or less
• a speed of 150 km/h or more on any road or highway

Other charges laid by police last weekend included no seatbelt (545), impaired driving (234) and distracted driving (102).

OPP reminds drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to be especially safe on the roads and near schools as children and older students headed back to school this week.