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A heavier police presence is expected on roads and waterways across the Upper Ottawa Valley this weekend as the Ontario Provincial Police launches a provincewide traffic safety campaign.
The Upper Ottawa Valley OPP detachment says the initiative begins Friday and runs through July 5, targeting distracted driving and unsafe boating as the busy Canada Day travel period gets underway.
Officers will focus enforcement on motorists, boaters and trail users who fail to use required safety equipment, including seatbelts, helmets and personal flotation devices. Police will also be watching for distracted, aggressive and impaired drivers.
The campaign comes as Ontario has seen a sharp increase in traffic fatalities this year. According to the OPP, deaths involving people not wearing seatbelts have risen 67 per cent compared with the same period in 2025. Police also reported one fatality involving a person who was not wearing a helmet and another involving someone without a personal flotation device.
Upper Ottawa Valley OPP Detachment Commander Insp. Sarah Darraugh said officers will have an increased presence throughout the long weekend.
“We are committed to ensuring the safety of everyone travelling on our roads and waterways,” Darraugh said in a statement. “We ask all motorists and vessel operators to do their part by making safe and responsible choices.”
Police are urging anyone travelling over the coming days to obey traffic laws, avoid distractions and wear appropriate safety equipment.
(Steve Berard)
