Here’s How Many Distracted Drivers OPP Charged
Published March 20, 2018 at 10:09 pm
The numbers are in.
And they’re “unacceptable.”
More than 2,500 distracted driving charges have been laid – in one week – against motorists across the province by Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).
“The risks to themselves, their passengers, and other people they share the road with is just far too high,” said OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt.
Their campaign, cracking down on inattentive drivers, ran from March 12 to March 18 — which included March Break and St. Paddy’s Day.
Distracted driving is the leading cause of death on our highways, said Schmidt.
More than 700 deaths across Ontario – since 2009 – are “because of an inattentive driver,” said Schmidt, adding it’s “not necessarily the deceased” who was using a device at the time.
The numbers are “absolutely heartbreaking,” he said.
The penalty: a $490 ticket.
It was also a deadly weekend on roads Ontario-wide.
At least one person died each day, said Schmidt.
In addition, roughly 24 impaired driving charges were laid, plus 31 stunt drivers were taken off the roads “and that was just over the weekend,” said Schmidt.