August 9, 2016
1282
(SOUTHERN BRUCE COUNTY, ON) – The West Region OPP Highway Safety Division is pleading with drivers to change their driving behaviour immediately, following a deadly week on the roads.
OPP investigated seven collisions in which eight people died on area roads, plus another four serious collisions involving life-threatening injuries for five people. The most recent death, reported late Sunday evening in Essex County, occurred when a motorcycle driver collided with three pedestrians; killing one and seriously injuring another.
Although these collisions were not in Southern Bruce County, the South Bruce OPP was called to two crashes at the intersection of Highway 9 and Bruce County Road 3 last week. One involved injuries to a motorcycle operator and the other one required an air ambulance for an injured person.
“Our message is back to the basics … don’t drink and drive, slow down, fasten your seatbelt and pay attention," says OPP traffic inspector Lisa Anderson. "If you’re not committed to paying total attention to the road, then don’t get behind the wheel. Driver accountability has to go beyond the fear of getting a ticket from police; it has to become a conscious decision and effort made for the safety of all roadway users. Until we get back to the basics, needless serious injury and death will be the logical consequence, regardless of police enforcement efforts.”
The OPP will continue directed patrols in high-collision areas, and targeted enforcement in identified areas, as well as educational campaigns targeting road safety. The OPP remains, and always will be, vigilant in trying to reduce injury and death on area roadways.
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