---
title: "Ottawa mayor and emergency services call for safer driving after 32 road deaths this year"
description: "Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and city emergency services held a press conference on October 29 to ask drivers to slow down and put away phones, ahead of Halloween weekend and the end of daylight saving time."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/news/ottawa-road-safety-press-conference-2026-10-29"
last_updated: "2026-10-29T17:52:43.227Z"
---

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe stood at Ottawa City Hall on October 29 with police, paramedics and public health officials to call on all road users to slow down after a deadly month on the city's streets. CTV News Ottawa reported the press conference.

Seven people have been killed in Ottawa traffic collisions in October alone, CTV News reported. The total for 2026 is 32 deaths on Ottawa roads, up from 23 in 2025. Ottawa Paramedic Service Chief Pierre Poirier said collisions with life-threatening injuries are up 40 per cent this year.

"Road safety is everyone's responsibility," Sutcliffe said at the press conference. "Dangerous driving must not be treated as acceptable in our city. We need everyone to play their role in keeping our streets safe."

## Mayor appeals for Halloween weekend caution

Sutcliffe made a direct appeal for the coming days. Halloween falls on Saturday, October 31, and daylight saving time ends on November 2, making evening hours darker. CTV News reported that Sutcliffe asked residents to slow down in residential areas and to be especially careful around crosswalks and intersections.

"Let's all slow down in residential areas," he said. "Let's be especially vigilant around crosswalks and intersections."

## Police point to phones and speed

Ottawa Police Supt. Julie Mann said distractions are one of the main causes of collisions in the city. CTV News reported her saying that police continue to see speeding, distracted driving, aggressive driving and impatience on Ottawa roads.

"These are choices, choices that can change someone's life forever," Mann said. "Put your phone away, slow down, leave yourself enough time to reach your destination without rushing, and actively look for the people sharing the road with you."

Mann also spoke to pedestrians, asking them to follow traffic signals and use designated crossings.

## Speed cameras removed a year ago

CTV News reported that Sutcliffe said he will continue to push Premier Doug Ford and the Ontario government to bring back automated speed cameras in school zones. The provincial government ordered municipalities to remove those cameras in November 2025, and Ottawa no longer operates them.

"Too many families are living with the devastating consequences of preventable collisions, and we cannot accept this as business as usual," Sutcliffe said.

[Mayor Sutcliffe](/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/mark-sutcliffe) named road safety as a priority for his second term. His [promise tracker](/on/ottawa-2026/tracker) records his commitments on policing and road safety.

Ottawa residents who see speeding or dangerous driving can call the Ottawa Police Service non-emergency line at 613-236-1222.

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