#LSN_Crime  SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN FATAL MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISIONS IN NORTH WEST REGION

(THUNDER BAY, ON) -  August 5, 2017  (LSN)  The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in North West Region has investigated 11 fatal motor vehicle collisions between January 1, 2017 and July 31, 2017. This is a significant increase form the same time period in 2016 where 4 fatal motor vehicle collisions occurred.

Factors involved in the fatal motor vehicle collisions in 2017 have been:

• 100% of the collisions have occurred on a Provincial Highway
• 90% of the collisions occurred when the environmental conditions were clear
• Road conditions were not a factor in any of the collisions
• 72% of the collisions occurred between 7am - 2pm
• 55% of the collisions involved a form of inattention
• 2 collisions involved alcohol
• 27% of the collisions had speed as a factor (not the only factor)
• 45% of the collisions involved a commercial motor vehicle

Factors involved for all motor vehicle collisions in North West Region during this time period:

• 78% of the collisions occurred when weather was not a factor (clear day)
• 51% of the collisions occurred when road conditions were not a factor (dry roads)
• 68% of collisions occurred between 7am - 7 pm

The OPP would like to remind drivers to slow down, wear their seatbelts, pay attention to driving at all times, and to not drink and drive. Drivers are responsible for the safety of all users of our roadways, and the OPP wants drivers to adopt safe, defensive driving behaviours which go a long way in reducing the number of injuries and deaths.  

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