Ottawa hits deadliest year for traffic in a decade with 32 fatalities

Ottawa's roads have become deadlier this year than any in the past ten years. Police reported 32 traffic fatalities through October 23 — a stark jump from the previous four-to-five years, when the city averaged 23 deaths annually.

The spike accelerated in recent weeks. A single day in mid-October brought two deaths: a pedestrian struck by a vehicle in Barrhaven, and a driver involved in a collision with farm equipment on the rural east end. Those were the city's 31st and 32nd fatalities of 2026. In one week alone, Ottawa saw at least six serious collisions — five of them involving pedestrians or cyclists.

The pattern prompted an urgent appeal from police. After a fatality, Ottawa Police Service issued a public call to prioritize road safety. The response included stepped-up enforcement, traffic blitzes in high-risk areas, and targeting of stunt driving. Officers issued dozens of offence notices and intensified messaging about the dangers of distracted driving and speeding.

The figures from Ottawa Police Service do not include data from OPP or RCMP — meaning the actual toll across the region may be higher. Still, the city's tally alone marks a crisis point. A school crossing guard, Peter Clark in Barrhaven, was killed last spring when struck by a vehicle driven by a teenager in a pickup truck — a death that underscored how pedestrians and cyclists are especially vulnerable.