White hearse travelling across Quebec to promote safe driving during construction holiday

A white hearse from the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec is touring the province during the construction holiday period to raise awareness among motorists about safe driving practices. In the photo, the hearse is in Montreal. (Photo courtesy of SAAQ/The Canadian Press)

A white hearse from the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) will travel across the province during the construction holiday to encourage drivers to practice safe driving habits during the particularly busy period on the roads.

The hearse will stop in several cities across Quebec. Residents will be invited to sign the vehicle—which is covered in white vinyl—as a “mobile contract” pledging to drive safely.

• READ MORE: After a deadly period in 2025, Quebec police urge vigilance during construction holiday

The SAAQ vehicle began its journey on Thursday in Montreal. On Saturday, it will stop in Quebec City—notably near the site of the Festival d’été de Québec—before continuing on to Saguenay, Rimouski, Trois-Rivières, and Saint-Sauveur, among other destinations.

“We wanted to make a statement, raise awareness, and leave a lasting impression—that’s pretty much the idea behind the hearse. It’s a powerful symbol; it may be shocking, but it also serves as a reminder of what’s at stake when you’re behind the wheel, because, unfortunately, it only takes one distraction to end up in a hearse,” said SAAQ spokesperson Simon-Pierre Poulin in an interview.

The construction holiday is one of the deadliest times on Quebec’s roads, Poulin noted. He explained that this is because people take more risks, drive faster due to the nice weather, and travel longer distances.

Last year, the death toll during the construction holiday period reached 35 on the province’s roads, according to the SAAQ. “That was nearly double the number in previous years,” said Poulin.

The SAAQ spokesperson noted that the causes of traffic fatalities are often the same: distractions, speeding, and driving under the influence.

“These are things we can control,” said Poulin, who is calling on drivers to take small actions that save lives, such as not looking at their cellphones while driving.

“In the specific case of the construction holiday, it really comes down to speed. Speed is a factor in three-quarters of the fatalities,” Poulin said.

“The message is also directed specifically at motorcyclists. We’ve seen a significant increase in the number of motorcyclist fatalities over the past year. A motorcyclist who goes too fast is a motorcyclist who dies. The leading cause of motorcyclist deaths in Quebec is speeding.”

The SAAQ spokesperson also emphasized the importance of motorcyclists wearing appropriate protective gear, even when it’s hot.

The Sûreté du Québec (SQ) also said that it will step up its enforcement efforts on the roads during the construction holiday, which runs through Aug. 2.

“About one-third of Quebecers take time off during this period, thereby increasing traffic on the road network and crowds at waterways and on trails,” the SQ said in a press release.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on July 18, 2026.

Coralie Laplante, The Canadian Press