Summer is one of the deadliest periods on roads: CAA-Quebec

Last summer was the second deadliest period on Quebec roads, according to CAA-Quebec.

With the warm season now here and peak travel time just around the corner, they are once again urging everyone to stay cautious, alert, and to share the road.

“Historically, the 75 days between the province’s national holiday and Labour Day have been the deadliest time on the roads,” said CAA-Quebec in a press release. “Fortunately, that wasn’t the case in 2024.”

“However, even one life lost is one too many,” they added.

According to their data, most road fatalities in 2024 actually occurred between Labour Day and mid-November—now considered the deadliest 75-day period of the year.

“This shift in statistics suggests that summer safety campaigns are having a positive impact, with more drivers, motorcyclists, and other road users heeding the message,” CAA-Quebec said.

Still, last summer was the second deadliest period on Quebec roads.

“A reminder that we can’t afford to let our guard down,” they explained.

While the number of summer road fatalities has been steadily declining (116 in 2022, 93 in 2023, and 83 in 2024), there’s still work to be done, CAA-Quebec urged.

According to their annual survey on vacation plans, 54 per cent of Quebecers will enjoy summer in the province. That means the roads will be very busy. To stay safe—and save money at the pump— CAA-Quebec is encouraging drivers to follow these tips:

• Share the road and be courteous to vulnerable users such as cyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians.
• Increase your following distance to give yourself more time to react. 
• Slow down and obey speed limits, especially in construction zones, and stay focused on the road. These are the most common causes of accidents. 
• Remember: speeding up by just 20 km/h over a 20 km stretch only saves two minutes, but increases fuel consumption by 15 per cent.
• For those towing trailers or driving RVs, avoid excessive speeding to ensure safe braking distances, and be mindful of blind spots.

They also said to apply the five principles of visual scanning: look up and far ahead, expand your field of vision, keep your eyes moving, make sure you’re visible, and always leave yourself an out.

According to police reports from 2020 to 2024, the leading cause of fatal road accidents in the summer is distracted driving. Speed is the second-leading cause.

“We need to slow down and avoid any distractions behind the wheel,” said André Durocher, Director of the CAA-Quebec Foundation.

“We must never let our guard down when it comes to road safety,” he added. “The roads will be busy over the coming months, and we’re urging all users to stay patient and cautious, and avoid distractions.”