Ontario Provincial Police are asking drivers to make safety a priority before the last unofficial travel weekend of the summer.
Officers will again be out in full force on Ontario's highways for Labour Day weekend, with many people wanting to get one last trip in before the kids head back to school next week.
The OPP will concentrate on what is called the "Big Four" factors that cause road deaths. They are speeding and aggressive driving, inattentive or distracted driving, driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs, and seatbelt use for all passengers.
Police say that between 2018 and 2022, more than half of the fatalities were attributed to the Big Four, accounting for 946 deaths among those that were avoidable.
"Motorists are urged to exercise the utmost caution when they begin driving near school buses, busy pedestrian crossovers, and school crossings next week," said OPP Sergeant Kerry Schmidt. "Pedestrians and cyclists also have a role to play in keeping roads safe by maintaining a heightened sense of awareness. Parents are encouraged to have their kids brush up on school bus safety tips."
So far in 2023, the OPP reported that 239 people have died on roads they patrol across Ontario.
The added enforcement campaign runs from Friday through Labour Day Monday.
