During the last long weekend of the year, the OPP typically launches a safety blitz focused on intoxicated driving and speeding. But this year they’re educating drivers on something else. Instead, officers will focus on preventing distracted driving with police out on the streets in unmarked vehicles, which also won’t have roof lights, to catch drivers in the act.
Texting and driving can kill you with 35 fatal accidents related to distracted driving this year. Last year, 86 people died in accidents on roads patrolled by the OPP with distracted driving leading to the number one killer in car accidents. A common reason for these deaths is related to drivers playing with electronic devices with people underestimating the danger of taking your eyes off the road, OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt told CBC News.
“We see it all the time and sadly, all these people being killed, it’s preventable. People just need to focus on the roads,” says Schmidt.
Those caught with distracted driving will be fined $280, but legislation will be re-introduced to pass stricter penalties.
Distracted driving is a dangerous habit that’s also been picked up by teens with more than one third of Ontario drivers still in high school admitting to having texted and driven behind the wheel. There’s also been a trend of driving selfies, which has led to some fatal accidents.
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