Roadways in Middlesex County have become some of the deadliest in the province over the past decade.
Statistics released by the Ontario Provincial Police to mark Canada Road Safety Week show the county is among the top three in the province for fatal collisions on OPP-patrolled roads. Since 2010, 115 people have been killed in crashes in Middlesex and figures so far this year show little improvement.
Over the first four months of 2020, five people have died in collisions in the county. That is a 67 per cent increase over the same period in 2019, according to OPP.
"Traffic safety and public safety are a priority for our members all year round," Staff Sergeant Steve Haight said in a statement. "We remain committed to high visibility and actively seek out those who choose in their actions to put the lives of others at risk."
Since the start of road safety week on Tuesday, Middlesex OPP officers have issued tickets to 12 drivers for speeding, eight for distracted driving, and impounded two vehicles that were busted doing more than 50 km/h above the posted speed limit.
With the Victoria Day long weekend and warm weather quickly approaching, police are reminding drivers not to get behind the wheel while impaired by either drugs or alcohol.
Over the past ten years, 631 of the 2,675 deaths on OPP patrolled roadways were the result of collisions involving drugs and alcohol.
