As collisions decreased in Peel, the number of deaths climbed

In 2019, 23 people were killed on region’s roads; this year, 35 have died despite less traffic

Despite a significant drop in collisions and speeding fines in Peel Region since the pandemic shutdown began, there has been a spike in motor vehicle-related deaths.

On Friday night, a19-year-old man died in Mississauga in a three-vehicle collision with a suspected drink driver. Police said the accused had two previous impaired driving convictions. Peter Simms, 46, of Orangeville, has been charged.

It comes on the heels of a Thursday morning collision in Mississauga that claimed the lives of two women and injured six other people.

Including the latest tragedies, the death toll from collisions is up to 35 this year compared to 23 fatalities in all of 2019.

“Despite the reduction in traffic volume, we have seen . . . motor vehicle collisions that have taken too many lives or left survivors with life-altering injuries during the pandemic,” Peel Region police chief Nishan Duraiappah said in an Oct. 6 statement underscoring his concerns.

This spike in road-related deaths includes 11 pedestrian and four cyclists.

Peel Region police recorded 806 collisions, between April 22 and Sept. 28 of this year, well below the 6,695 over the same period in 2019. They laid 5,243 fewer speeding charges compared to the same time between April and September of 2019.

“The (35) fatalities are a combination of many things including impaired driving, aggressive driving and distracted driving,” said Staff Sgt. Allan Villers of the road safety services division.

Villers said as people stayed home, the empty stretches of road became a playground for stunt drivers and street racers, “who utilized the roadways as their own racing track.”

“It created a bit of a culture of freedom on the road,” Villers said.

He said teaming up with Toronto and York regional police officers to crack down on the events that typically take place on the weekends, lead to dozens of charges against several alleged street racing ringleaders.

The campaign yielded results, said Villers. “We have seen a decline in street racing calls.”

Jotvinder Sodhi of the Homeowners Welfare Association and Concerned Residents of Brampton said public concern has been elevated since the horrific death of elementary teacher Karolina Ciasullo and her three young daughters on June 8.

Brady Robertson, 20, of Caledon, is charged with four counts of dangerous driving causing death and impaired driving causing death.

Sodhi raised the residents concerns about armed carjackings, deadly collisions, speeding and stunt driving to the Peel police services board on Sept. 25.