During the week of March 13th to the 19th the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) will be conducting a Distracted Driving Campaign throughout the Province. The campaign is part of the OPP’s planned Provincial Traffic Safety Campaigns.
Officers combine education with focused enforcement during the campaign.
In the year 2015; the OPP investigated 299 fatalities on OPP patrolled highways.
69 from Distracted Driving
61 speed related deaths
51 from not wearing a seat belt
45 from driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol.
Individuals of all ages drive distracted, it is not simply the young.
The fine was increased in September 2015 to $490 and 3 demerit points upon conviction. Motorists who contest the charges in court can be fined up to $1000 on conviction.
The OPP remind the public that every driver operating a motor vehicle on a highway has a responsibility to direct their entire attention to driving safely.