Nine vehicle fatalities reported in Essex County this year: OPP

Essex County OPP say two people have died after a three-vehicle collision between Leamington and Wheatley, Ont., on Friday, March 18, 2022. (Sanjay Maru / CTV Windsor)

OPP are releasing statistics on vehicle fatalities in the region ahead of Canada Road Safety Week.

Essex County OPP has responded to six fatal collisions so far this year, resulting in nine fatalities.

There were eight fatal collisions in all of 2021, resulting in 12 fatalities.

Canada Road Safety Week is led by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and runs from May 17 to 23.

On a provincial level, police say poor and careless driving behaviours have contributed to the majority of the 107 fatalities on OPP-patrolled roads so far this year.

“It's a motor vehicle fatality rate the OPP has not seen in 10 years,” states a news release from OPP.

Not since 2012 has the number of people killed in road collisions reached the 100 mark by the second week of May.

OPP say these driving behaviours stand out in this year's preventable road deaths:

During the annual Canada Road Safety Week campaign, the OPP will join national policing partners to conduct robust enforcement/education around inattentive/distracted driving, speeding and other aggressive driving, alcohol/drug impaired driving, seatbelt compliance and other risky road behaviours.

The motoring public is encouraged to adopt and maintain safe road behaviours that align with this year's campaign theme "Safer You. Safer Me."