Death toll from speed-related incidents reach five-year high: OPP

OPP laid close to 213,000 speeding charges and more than 4,800 street racing charges against Ontario drivers in 2017, according to numbers OPP released to prepare drivers for the Canada Day long weekend.

During the same year, 75 people were killed from speed-related collisions on OPP-patrolled roads — a five-year high.

Crunching the numbers

Speeding charges for males:

• 5,939 charges — ages 16 to 20
• 37,498 charges — ages 25 to 34
• 27,959 charges — ages 35 to 44
• 26,212 charges — ages 45 to 54

Speeding charges for females:

• 2,699 charges — ages 16 to 20
• 17,433 charges — ages 25 to 34
• 12,817 charges — ages 35 to 44
• 11,541 charges — ages 45 to 54

Street racing charges for males:

• 447 charges — ages 16 to 20
• 1,382 charges — ages 21 to 24
• 968 charges — ages 25 to 34
• 622 charges  — ages 35 to 44

Street racing charges for females:

• 91 charges — ages 16 to 20
• 260 charges — ages 21 to 24
• 155 charges — ages 25 to 34
• 130 charges  — ages 35 to 44

Street racing charges are issued for driving more than 50 km/h over the posted speed limit.

Combined with increased ground patrol, OPP says they will be deploying air support during the long weekend, giving them a bird's-eye view of OPP-patrolled roads, waterways and trails.