Thanksgiving weekend means traveling for many people.
“I feel like, honestly, every city nowadays probably has traffic, so I’m expecting pretty heavy traffic and construction,” says one Fanshawe student. “I will probably take some back roads, to be honest. Anyway, we can avoid the construction.”
The 401 highway is currently under construction and is going out of London.
“If you’re going to be traveling this Thanksgiving. We’re just asking everyone to please make sure they put safety as a priority,” West Region OPP Sergeant Ed Sanchuk says. “It really comes down to the fact that driving is a privilege. It’s not a right and we need people to make sure that they understand that. And if you are traveling on the highways, be prepared. You’re gonna see an influx of traffic on our roadways and you will see an increased police presence as well.”
Even though there may not be workers in construction areas during this long weekend, the posted construction speed limits still apply, Sanchuk continues.
“It really comes down to the fact that when you get behind that wheel of a vehicle, even before you put that vehicle and gear, you want to warm up your vehicle, warm up your mind, making sure that you’re prepared for the unexpected,” Sanchuk adds.
Almost every accident is caused by speeding, Sanchuk says.
“I have to go around the construction because it doesn’t let you go through. They’ve completely blocked off all the roads,” a Fanshawe student says. “I’m expecting to see accidents, There’s a lot of accidents where I go.”
For updates on 401 Highway traffic visit https://511on.ca/