OPP Launch Thanksgiving Safety Campaign as Holiday Travel Begins
Operation Impact targets impaired, aggressive and distracted driving, along with seatbelt and child car seat use
THUNDER BAY — As families across Northwestern Ontario prepare to travel for Thanksgiving, the Ontario Provincial Police are urging motorists to drive sober, stay alert and make safe choices throughout the long weekend.
The OPP is joining police services across Canada for Operation Impact, an annual traffic safety campaign led by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police. The initiative combines education and enforcement to address behaviours that contribute to serious collisions.
Thanksgiving carries a troubling road safety record
According to the OPP, Thanksgiving weekends have recorded the second-highest number of fatalities among Ontario’s long weekends over the past decade.
Police say 13 people died in roadway collisions in OPP jurisdictions during last year’s Thanksgiving weekend.
The OPP identifies alcohol and drug use as leading factors in Thanksgiving weekend fatalities over the past decade. Police also warn that failing to use protective equipment—including seatbelts, helmets and lifejackets—continues to contribute to deaths.
Officers targeting high-risk driving
Throughout the holiday weekend, officers will focus on:
- Alcohol- and drug-impaired driving
- Fatigued driving
- Aggressive driving, including speeding
- Distracted driving
- Seatbelt and child car seat use
For drivers travelling between Thunder Bay, Kenora, Dryden, Fort Frances and other regional communities, the message is straightforward: allow enough travel time, put distractions away and ensure everyone is properly buckled up.
Arrange a sober ride if celebrations include alcohol or other impairing substances. If you become tired behind the wheel, stop somewhere safe and rest.
Patrols extend to trails and waterways
The campaign also reaches beyond Ontario’s roads. OPP officers will patrol trails and waterways, addressing unsafe behaviour and promoting responsible recreation.
Police remind riders and boaters to remain sober and wear appropriate protective equipment, including helmets and lifejackets.
The OPP is asking everyone to make safety part of their Thanksgiving plans so gatherings end with a safe trip home.
