The most tragic snowmobile season in 14 years highlights the situation on and off Ontario roads in 2016.
A total of 307 people were killed in motor vehicle collisions in 2016, marking a four-year high according to the OPP.In 2014, 290 people were killed. The number jumped to 301 in 2015.
Police say every year, without exception, the majority of the fatalities are attributed to the “Big Four” main causal factors in road deaths. Three are linked to driver behaviour such as aggressive, inattentive and impaired driving. The fourth is lack of seat belt use by drivers and passengers. These behaviours were responsible for 165 (more than half) of last year’s 307 deaths with little change over the previous year.
The OPP investigated 67,372 motor vehicle collisions in 2016, down from 69,934 collisions in 2015. Marking another four-year high are the 275 collisions that resulted in fatalities.
2016 marked the highest number of marine deaths in years, with 23 people dying in 19 incidents on OPP-patrolled waterways. Seven of last year’s fatal incidents involved non-motorized vessels such as canoes and kayaks. Falling overboard was the primary cause in nine of the incidents. Capsized or swamped vessels were involved in seven of them and alcohol in eight of the incidents.
Sadly,every year, the majority of the victims are found not wearing a Personal Floatation Device (PFD). Last year, 19 of the 23 victims found with no PFD and in 2015, all of the deceased were found without one.
The OPP says it is sharing the data publicly to raise awareness of the impact ongoing behaviours have on the number of deaths on Ontario roads, waterways and trails.
photo credit: Kevin Gebhardt Metra Train vs Car Collision. Elgin, Illinois 09/08/2012 via photopin (license)
