At least 18 people died in road accidents and 10 people drowned during the 2025 construction holiday period in Quebec [1, 2].
These figures highlight the persistent dangers associated with the province's most congested travel window. The surge in movement across roads and waterways typically leads to a spike in preventable tragedies, prompting urgent warnings from provincial safety agencies.
Data from the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ), the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), and the Association des directeurs de police du Québec (ADPQ) track these trends [1]. While some reports suggest the totals are lower than the previous year, officials said the number of fatalities remains too high [1, 2].
There are significant discrepancies in reported road fatalities. While one report cites 18 deaths [1], the Sûreté du Québec provided a provisional count of at least 20 [4]. Other reports from Radio-Canada indicate the toll could be higher, with figures reaching at least 32 [5] or at least 38 deaths [6].
Drowning totals also vary slightly across reports. One source listed nine drownings [3], while more recent data indicates 10 people died in the water [1, 2].
Provincial agencies have focused on increasing prudence on the roads to mitigate these risks [2]. The two-week period represents a unique challenge for emergency services due to the volume of tourists and workers traveling simultaneously across the province [1, 2].
“18 people were killed in road accidents and 10 people drowned during the construction holidays”
The volatility in fatality numbers—ranging from 18 to 38 road deaths—suggests a lag in data consolidation between provincial police and reporting agencies. This discrepancy underscores the difficulty of tracking real-time casualties during high-volume travel periods in Quebec, where the construction holiday creates an intense, short-term pressure on public safety infrastructure.
