Quebec police urge caution on the road after fatal collisions during construction holiday

A Surete du Quebec police car is seen at their headquarters in Montreal on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

The many road collisions that have occurred across Quebec since the start of the construction holiday have prompted the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) to issue a new call for caution for the rest of the summer vacation period.

The provincial police force is reporting 17 deaths in 14 collisions since the start of the construction holiday, which has been underway for just over a week. That includes both on- and off-road collisions.

In 2024, during the entire construction holiday period, 14 people lost their lives in 13 fatal collisions on the road network, while four deaths occurred in collisions involving an off-road vehicle.

According to the SQ, the toll for the first week of this year’s construction holiday calls for a reminder of basic safety tips.

“If we want to reverse the trend, everyone must do their part. We must slow down, be vigilant and, above all, be in a fit state to drive when we get behind the wheel,” said Sgt. Ève Brochu-Joubert in a video posted on the SQ’s social media accounts.

“We know that many people are on vacation. If you want to continue enjoying them with your family and friends, please be careful on the roads,” she added.

According to the SQ, the construction holiday period is always a time when the number of collisions with fatalities and injuries are particularly high.

The provincial police force had already announced that it would be stepping up its presence on the roads, waterways, and trails from July 18 to Aug. 3.

In 2024, during the summer holidays, failure to obey traffic signs, speeding, impaired driving, and failure to wear safety equipment were the causes of most fatal and serious collisions, according to the SQ.

- This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on July 29, 2025.