Over 400 people died in car crashes and marine incidents in 2022: OPP

At least one person died every day in Ontario in vehicle and boating incidents last year, amounting to over 400 fatalities on and off the road for 2022, according to the Ontario Provincial Police.

The OPP Highway Safety Division released its end-of-year statistics Sunday afternoon.

“When we look back at 2022, it was deadly,” said OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt on a Twitter video.

At least 423 people lost their lives in motorized collisions, marine incidents and snowmobile wrecks across the province.

The OPP said most of the fatalities happened on the road, with 353 fatal motor vehicle collisions in 2022.

Speeding and aggressive driving topped the list as the deadliest cause of accidents, with roughly one in every four people losing their lives last year.

Inattentive and distracted driving left 66 people dead in 2022, the second-highest cause of accidents.

The OPP said 53 people died in the province from accidents caused by driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

44 motorcyclists were killed in 2022. At least 29 pedestrians and 12 bicyclists also lost their lives in Ontario last year in motor vehicle collisions.

“This is way over one [incident] every single day across the province,” Schmidt said.

Boating and marine incidents left 29 fatalities in 2022. 27 people died in off-road vehicles and the winter season left 14 people dead in snowmobile collisions.

At least 1241 drivers have been charged since the OPP launched its “Festive Ride” campaign in mid-November.

Between New Year’s Eve and Jan. 1 56 impaired driving charges have been laid, 11 in the GTA.

“We want 2023 to be a far safer year. Please be a better driver,” Schmidt said, “If you drink, don’t drive; if you drive, don’t drink. It is pretty simple.”

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