Police focus on distracted driving over March Break

The OPP’s Distracted Driving Campaign begins March 14 and continues until Friday, March 20. Anyone stopped using a handheld communication device will be fined $280.

In 2014, the OPP investigated 73 road collision fatalities in which distracted driving was a causal factor.

With 12 of the 51 OPP-investigated road collisions so far this year being attributed to driver distraction (as of March 8), 2015 is shaping up to mark the seventh consecutive year in which distraction-related road deaths surpass impaired-related road deaths.

In five of the fatal incidents, it was the driver who was found to be driving inattentively who died.  In two incidents, the driver who died did nothing wrong and was driving properly at the time of the collision.  Three of the incidents involved a pedestrian being struck by a vehicle.

“Distracted driving is a danger to all road users. Fortunately, these same road users are in a position to help put a stop to it. We want to see everyone develop and maintain a complete intolerance for distracted driving and make it the socially unacceptable driving behaviour that it should be,” said Chief Superintendent Chuck Cox, Commander of the OPP Highway Safety Division.