Ontario police laid more than 1,500 charges over Thanksgiving weekend

There were 842 for speeding, 83 for seatbelt violations, 33 impaired, and 33 for distracted driving over the course of four days.

Ontario Provincial Police laid more than 1,500 traffic-related charges in eastern Ontario over the Thanksgiving long weekend, with speeding accounting for the largest share of offences.

The East Region OPP reported 842 speeding charges as part of Operation Impact, a road safety campaign that ran from Oct. 9 to Oct. 12.

Police also laid 83 seatbelt-related charges, while impaired driving and distracted driving each accounted for 33 charges, according to figures shared by the force.

The campaign focused on behaviours that continue to contribute to serious and fatal collisions, including speeding, impaired driving, inattentive driving and failing to wear a seatbelt properly.

The results highlight the range of traffic offences officers encountered during the four-day enforcement period.

Speeding charges far outnumbered the other categories listed in the OPP's report, making excessive speed the most common offence among those highlighted.

Operation Impact is intended to improve road safety by targeting risky driving behaviours. Police have repeatedly identified these behaviours as concerns because of their connection to serious crashes.

The OPP shared the figures following the holiday weekend, when officers focused on preventing dangerous driving across the region.

Story by Kingston Daily Staff