Ottawa has recorded 29 traffic-related fatalities so far in 2026, a figure that has already surpassed the 23 deaths recorded on city roads during all of last year, according to an Ottawa Police Service news release.
The milestone, announced Wednesday, follows a series of recent fatal collisions across the city. In response, the Ottawa Police Service is renewing an urgent appeal — made in partnership with Safer Roads Ottawa — to everyone who drives, walks, cycles or rides to treat road safety as a shared responsibility.
Police said each death represents a person whose life was cut short, along with families facing unimaginable loss and communities forever changed. They described the rise in fatal collisions as a stark reminder that a single moment of distraction, impatience or poor decision-making can have devastating consequences.
"Twenty-nine families have already experienced the heartbreak of losing a loved one on our roads this year. These tragedies are not inevitable. Many can be prevented when all road users make safe, responsible choices every time they travel through our community. We are asking everyone to slow down, stay focused and look out for one another before another life is lost."
Sgt. Josh Callaghan, of the Ottawa Police Service's Road Safety Unit, issued the appeal in the release, which was distributed Wednesday afternoon.
Police and their road safety partners are continuing enforcement, education and public awareness initiatives across Ottawa, the release said, but they stressed that enforcement alone cannot prevent every collision. Road safety ultimately depends on the choices each person makes every day, police said, calling on drivers, pedestrians and cyclists to slow down, pay attention and respect one another on the roads.
"Twenty-nine deaths mean twenty-nine families forever changed," the release stated, urging every road user to help prevent the next tragedy.
Residents who want to look at the numbers themselves can do so through the Community Safety Data portal at data.ottawapolice.ca, where the police service publishes data that members of the public can view, download and interact with.
Police are also encouraging residents to register their information and security camera locations at CAMSafe.ca, a program that helps support investigations and, according to the release, helps make the community safer.
The Ottawa Police Service and Safer Roads Ottawa are asking everyone to take the message to heart and help ensure every road user reaches their destination safely.
