Quebec drivers warned: deadliest road period starts this week
Over 100 people died on Quebec roads between mid-June and Labour Day last year. CAA warns of distracted driving and speeding.
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CAA-Quebec is warning drivers ahead of what it calls the deadliest period on Quebec roads—between Saint-Jean-Baptiste (June 24) and Labour Day. The organization is urging motorists to drive cautiously with safe practices as 57 per cent of Quebecers surveyed said they plan to travel this summer.
Distracted driving and speeding are the leading causes of death during this window. Last year, over 100 people were killed in collisions between June 24 and Labour Day. In 2024, there were 83 deaths during the same period; in 2023, the death toll was 93. In some regions, summer deaths account for a disproportionate share: 60 per cent in Côte-Nord, 43 per cent in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, and about a third in Eastern Townships and Montérégie.
CAA also warns that drunk driving can result in fines of up to $10,000 upon conviction. The organization recommends increasing following distance, slowing down especially in construction zones, staying focused on the road, and applying visual scanning principles—looking up and far ahead, expanding your field of vision, keeping your eyes moving, ensuring you're visible, and always leaving yourself an out. When driving with trailers or recreational vehicles, stay alert to blind spots and avoid excessive speeds to ensure sufficient braking time.
