Collisions involving commercial motor vehicles increased 17 per cent last year

ORILLIA, ON — Collisions involving commercial motor vehicles – mostly trucks with a gross weight over 4,500 kilograms – increased sharply on Ontario highways last year.

OPP investigated 7,215 of these crashes, marking a 17 per cent increase.

Police also report a 26 per cent increase in commercial motor vehicle collisions that resulted in fatalities last year.

Seventy-two people died in these collisions.

The statistics were released Wednesday by OPP headquarters in Orillia as part of the force's 2021 traffic data summary.

A total of 315 people died from motor vehicle collisions of all types on OPP-patrolled roads last year, up four per cent from 2020.

Speeding was among the more prevalent behaviours to cause carnage on the highway, contributing to the deaths of 81 people.

It was a 10-year high and a 31 per cent increase from the previous year.

Alongside speeding, fatalities linked to inattentive drivers were up 29 per cent, while alcohol or drug-related deaths fell by almost 50 per cent.

Deaths attributed to people not wearing seatbelts also declined.
 

OPP also responded to 23 fatal marine accidents last year, which cost the lives of 27 people, down 16 per cent from the previous year.

All but three of the deceased were not wearing a lifejacket.