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
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Minister 'outraged' after AFN national chief's headdress taken from Air Canada cabin
The federal minister of Crown-Indigenous relations is calling on Air Canada to 'make things right' with the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, who said her headdress was removed from an airplane cabin during a flight this week.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.