OPP Patrolling Port Dover for Friday the 13th

Friday, 13 June 2025 06:52

The OPP is expecting over 100,000 motorcyclists in Port Dover today.

PORT DOVER - Port Dover will be packed today for the only Friday the 13th celebration of 2025.

Lots of motorcyclists will be heading south to Norfolk County today, so there will be an increased OPP presence in the area.

Andrew Gamble, the Community Engagement Officer for the Norfolk OPP, is expecting a big turnout today.

"Because it's happening at a prime time, I think we're expecting see north of 100,000 people. If we go back to last September, at it's peak we saw 75,000 people and I believe we will exceed that this year."

He's encouraging everyone to be vigilant and patient today, because there will be a lot of traffic headaches in and around Port Dover. Not only will there be an increase in motorcycle traffic on the roads, but there will also be lots of pedestrians and road closures in Port Dover.

Gamble would like everyone to make their personal and motoring safety a priority today. The OPP reported an increase of fatal collisions involving motorcycles last year. The largest number of those crashes were in the West Region, which includes Oxford and Norfolk.

The Norfolk OPP responded one during the last Friday the 13th in September. Gamble says it was in the Waterford area early in the morning.

"Incidents like this can happen very quickly and if someone is involved in a collision on a motorcycle, it can certainly have deadly consequences. We need riders to be confident in the environment they are riding in. Whether it's early in the morning or late at night, if they're not comfortable driving at those ends of the clock, they should really tailor their route around that."

The Norfolk OPP also noticed in increase in the number of people drinking in unlicenced public places during the last Friday the 13th in Port Dover, so officers will be on the lookout this time around. Gamble says it could result in a $125 fine.

"That is entirely avoidable. There are licenced establishments and licenced areas and beer tents where alcohol consumption is permitted, but out in public that is an issue. So that is something we will be watchful for and we will be enforcing."

If you are planning on drinking today, make sure you plan to stay the night or have a cab/designated driver pick you up.

#FridayThe13th has been a staple in #PortDover for decades - and the recipe for a great day hasn't changed: stay safe, stay kind, and pack your patience.

With tens of thousands expected downtown, getting anywhere fast just isn't in the cards. (1 of 2) ^ag pic.twitter.com/9Jxqi0QK3O
— OPP West Region (@OPP_WR) June 12, 2025

Thousands of people expected to descend on #PortDover for #Friday13. #OPP putting out a friendly reminder to everyone travelling across West Region to do so safely! Traffic Safety is Everyone's Responsibilty! Please #DriveSafe. #WROPP ^es pic.twitter.com/pCf5aXUDoG
— OPP West Region (@OPP_WR) June 12, 2025