Eighteen people lost their lives on Quebec roads during the 2026 construction holiday period, according to the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ). The agency said that the majority of those fatalities could have been avoided.
SAAQ officials highlighted that ten of the eighteen deaths were deemed preventable based on the circumstances surrounding each crash. While the agency did not release detailed cause‑and‑effect analyses, it emphasized that driver behavior and adherence to safety measures are key factors in reducing such outcomes.
The construction holiday, a scheduled interval when many roadwork projects pause, typically sees a shift in traffic patterns as drivers adjust routes and speeds. This year, the holiday period coincided with a higher number of severe collisions than in previous years, prompting the SAAQ to issue a statement on the preventable nature of most incidents.
Over the past decade, Quebec’s overall road fatality count has remained relatively stable, with annual numbers fluctuating within a narrow range. The 2026 holiday period, however, marked a departure from that trend, registering eighteen deaths compared with the average of roughly ten to twelve fatalities reported in comparable periods in earlier years.
The SAAQ’s assessment underscores the agency’s ongoing focus on road safety education and enforcement. It reiterated existing campaigns that target speeding, impaired driving, and distraction, urging motorists to remain vigilant, especially during periods of altered traffic flow such as the construction holiday.
No additional fatalities have been reported for the remainder of the holiday period as of the latest SAAQ update. Authorities continue to monitor road conditions and advise drivers to comply with posted speed limits and signage to prevent further loss of life.
The agency plans to release a comprehensive report later in the year detailing the specific factors contributing to the preventable deaths and outlining recommendations for future safety measures.