The Ontario Provincial Police are calling the Victoria Day long weekend the safest one in five years because fewer people were killed.
Police said two people were killed in two separate collisions on OPP patrolled highways during the long weekend, a reduction from five for the same weekend in 2008.
Police report no fatalities on OPP patrolled trails and waterways.
"I am proud of the work and dedication of our officers over the weekend to ensure higher visibility and increased enforcement," said OPP Commissioner Julia Fantino in a news release. "Their efforts are major contributing factors as to why our roads, trails and waterways were the safest they have been in five years with fewer people killed."
Over the weekend, May 16-18, OPP officers laid 5,754 speeding charges, 468 seatbelt charges, 162 impaired driving charges and issued 143 suspensions for registering a "warn" signal on their roadside screening devices.
Last week, including the Victoria Day weekend, was Canada Road Safety Week across Canada. During this time the, the OPP laid 217 impaired driving charges, 182 suspensions for registering a "warn" on the roadside screening device. The OPP charged 146 drivers for travelling more than 50 kilometres over the posted speed limit, suspending their driver's licence on the spot and seizing the vehicle. In addition 7,391 speeding charges were laid and 727 people were charged for not wearing a seatbelt.
Overall the number of persons killed on OPP patrolled roads during this period last year is down 15.9 per cent to 95 in 2009 from 113 in 2008.
Police say there has also been a reduction in fatalities caused by alcohol, speed and in cases where people were not wearing seatbelts in the same 20-week period.


