Grey-Bruce crash fatality rate among highest in southwestern Ontario
An OPP officer raced off to the scene of a fatal motorcycle crash near Teeswater, Ont. this August.
It’s one of 14 fatal crashes in Grey-Bruce so far this year — a big increase from five fatal crashes, just two years ago.
“Any increase, whether it’s one or 14, is one too many, especially when all of these collisions are preventable,” said Grey-Bruce OPP Community Services Const., Nick Wilson.
Preventable, because all 14 crashes were related to speeding, impaired, distracted, or aggressive driving, added Wilson.
The increase in fatal crashes is what’s most alarming to Grey Bruce OPP.
Crash numbers have been relatively steady the past few years, with 1,358 crashes in 2020, 1,380 in 2021, and 1,360 so far in 2022.
But, it's a much higher fatality rate than in other jurisdictions, with the 14 fatalities in Grey-Bruce compared to just six in South Bruce, 10 in Wellington County, and nine in Norfolk County.
That puts Grey-Bruce’s fatality rate at over one per cent — one of the highest in southern Ontario.
“I really don’t think there is one perfect solution to it, but we continue with enforcement with our officers, as well as public education to try and address this, as best we can,” said Wilson.
Although it’s not led directly to fatal crashes, stunt driving along the Bruce Peninsula has also been a problem.
The OPP’s Aviation Unit has been brought in to increase enforcement the past two summers, and Sgt. Kerry Schmidt with the GTA Highway Safety Division has reached out via Twitter to the 63 per cent of stunt drivers caught in Grey-Bruce last year that hailed from the Greater Toronto Area.
“Folks, we gotta slow down. We gotta respect our neighbours,” Schmidt said in a recent Twitter video.
During a traffic blitz last Friday meant to combat the increase in fatal crashes, Grey Bruce OPP officers caught 28 people for speed-related offences in one day.
“It is an issue year after year. It’s something we need to work with the public, and they need to work with us, to address,” said Wilson.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW From yearning for a change to cost of living, why some Canadians have left or may leave the country
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Defence attacks Stormy Daniels' credibility as she returns to the stand in Trump's hush money trial
Stormy Daniels will return to the witness stand Thursday in Donald Trump's hush money trial as the defence tries to undermine the credibility of the porn actor's salacious testimony about their alleged sexual encounter and the money she was paid to keep quiet.
With contactless screening tech, this Toronto startup hopes to catch breast cancer early — and save lives
Amid evidence of rising breast cancer rates among young women in Canada, one Toronto startup is offering a contactless and radiation-free device that can help doctors identify suspicious changes in breast tissue. The company, Linda Lifetech, says this can lead to earlier detection of breast cancer.
Tornadoes tear through southeastern U.S. as storms leave 3 dead
Forecasters warned a wave of dangerous storms in the U.S. could wash over parts of the South early Thursday, a day after severe weather with damaging tornadoes and large hail killed at least three people in the region.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.