The OPP learned again over the March break that motorists still aren't getting the message when it comes to distracted driving.
During a province-wide initiative, the OPP laid a total of 1,508 distracted driving charges with an additional 51 distraction-related careless driving charges against motorists who were caught dividing their attention between driving and some other activity that made roads unsafe.
So far this year, the OPP has laid over 2,000 distracted driving charges.
During the same period, North Bay Detachment officers conducted several hours of patrol and in the end, 20 drivers were charged with distracted driving offences. One of the charges was for "display screen visible to the driver."
Drivers caught talking on their phones, texting, dialing or emailing using a hand-held device, such as a cell phone and other entertainment devices will be fined up to $1,000 with a three-day licence suspension and three demerit points upon conviction.
Novice drivers also face longer licence suspensions under the new laws.
In North East Region 74 drivers were charged during the campaign:
- 1 charge for display screen visible to the driver;
- 71 charges for driving with a hand-held communication device; and
- 2 charges of careless driving related to distracted driving.
Chief Superintendent Fern Labelle, Commander of North East Region, said in a news release that "North East Region is committed to traffic safety, especially when it comes to distracted driving. In 2018, officers investigated over 4,500 collisions, attributing more than 700 of them to inattentive driving. Distracted driving refers to all forms of distracted or inattentive driving such as adjusting a vehicle's entertainment system or GPS unit or stereo, eating and drinking, using a hand-held communication or hand-held entertainment device, self-grooming or tending to children in the back seat."
