This Thanksgiving long weekend, police in Quebec are ramping up their efforts to keep the roads safe by cracking down on distracted and reckless driving.
Teaming up with the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ), the nationwide initiative to tackle distracted driving and dangerous behaviors will be in effect from Oct. 10 to 16.
Notably, this year’s enforcement will focus on infractions by heavy vehicles, as highlighted by the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) in a recent statement. Several operations have already been conducted, with more scheduled throughout the weekend.
In response to a concerning trend, the chief coroner has initiated a public inquiry into heavy truck-related fatalities that occurred this summer. Public Safety Minister Ian Lafrenière raised alarms about the increasing number of accidents involving these vehicles.
Recent statistics from the SAAQ reveal a troubling rise in road deaths involving heavy vehicles, with 100 out of 379 fatalities in 2024 attributed to such incidents, marking a significant 35.1% increase compared to the previous year.
Aside from addressing distracted driving and reckless behaviors, law enforcement patrols will also keep a close eye on compliance with road signs and crack down on tailgating, as well as dangerous driving maneuvers.
The SQ emphasized the importance of adhering to traffic laws, noting that violations of the Highway Safety Code are responsible for a staggering 57% of collisions in urban and school zones and 65% of accidents at intersections.
