Officers with the OPP Central Region were monitoring traffic from the sky on the civic holiday weekend.
Police have released the following statement about their results.
OPP AIRPLANE ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM TAKES FLIGHT OVER CIVIC HOLIDAY WEEKEND
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Airplane Enforcement Program (AEP) supported targeted traffic enforcement efforts across Central Region during the Civic Holiday long weekend, resulting in numerous charges against motorists engaging in dangerous driving behaviours.
The initiative paired an officer in the OPP aircraft with officers on the ground. Traffic violations observed from the air were communicated in real time to officers on patrol, who conducted traffic stops and addressed behaviours that put road users at risk.
With the assistance of the AEP, officers laid 49 charges during the initiative. Speeding was the most common offence, accounting for 67% of all charges, followed by following too closely at 20%.
The OPP continues to see speeding, aggressive driving, and other dangerous driving behaviours contribute to serious collisions on Ontario roadways. The AEP is one of several specialized tools used by the OPP to identify unsafe drivers and enhance road safety. Aerial enforcement provides officers with a unique perspective, allowing them to observe driver behaviour over extended distances and detect violations that may otherwise go unnoticed. This initiative successfully identified numerous high-risk driving behaviours from the air and directed officers on the ground to take enforcement action.
Motorists are reminded that traffic enforcement efforts continue year-round. Whether from the air or on the ground, OPP officers remain committed to addressing behaviours that contribute to preventable collisions, injuries and fatalities.
The OPP encourages all drivers to obey posted speed limits, maintain safe following distances, avoid aggressive driving behaviours, and make safety their top priority every time they get behind the wheel.
