The Ontario Provincial Police will be out in full force this weekend targeting unsafe drivers and boaters ahead of Canada Day.
Commissioner Julian Fantino says this is one of the busiest weekends of the year because children are out of school and many people are starting summer vacations.
Another factor this year is that Canada Day falls on Tuesday, meaning some workers will be getting a four-day weekend.
The force will be using two enforcement airplanes over major highways in southern Ontario watching for drunk drivers, speeders and aggressive motorists.
Fantino said a police traffic blitz is set up along the QEW in the Niagara region because it is a high-volume travel route.
"This particular weekend is a bit more of an issue for us because we have a holiday on both sides of the border," Fantino told CTV Toronto.
"This is very much a transit point between Canada and the U.S."
On Friday morning, officers at the checkpoint said one of their first encounters involved a truck towing an old vehicle with a rope. An inspection also discovered only two of five bolts were actually holding in place one of the truck's wheels.
The police aircrafts flying over highways will also help officers nab drivers travelling more than 50 km/h over the posted limit. Legislation passed last fall means these offenders will have their licences suspended on the spot and their car impounded for one week.
Police say the new law has already helped reduce speed-related fatal collisions by more than 40 per cent.
Officers will also be watching trails to ensure people are safely operating their ATVs.
In Toronto, police and EMS worker set up a safety blitz at Yorkdale Mall on Friday to remind drivers about road safety.
"With all children out of school, it means more children are on the roads, using alternative modes of transportation such as bicycles, rollerblades, skateboards," Sgt. Tim Burrows said.
"We have to make sure that everybody's watching for that."
With a report from CTV Toronto's Jim Junkin
