The OPP’s March Break distracted driving campaign will wrap on March 18.
During the campaign, officers “will be highly focused on what has been the deadliest kind of driver on OPP-patrolled roads for the fifth consecutive year – the inattentive driver,” police stated in a press release.
Inattentive drivers were behind 83 road fatalities on OPP-patrolled roads in 2017, surpassing speed-related deaths (75), alcohol/drug-related deaths (46) and those linked to a lack of seat belt use (49).
Since 2009, the year Ontario’s distracted driving laws took effect, 692 people have been killed on OPP-patrolled roads in collisions involving an inattentive driver.
“By now, the majority of drivers and passengers have witnessed, had a close call or been involved in a collision with a driver who was texting, talking on their cell phone or engaged in some other form of distraction,” states OPP Deputy Commissioner Brad Blair.
“Last year, the OPP responded to 8,711 crashes that were linked to driver inattention.”
If convicted of distracted driving, a driver will receive:
– a fine of $400, plus a victim surcharge and court fee, for a total of $490 if settled out of court;
– fine of up to $1,000 if you receive a summons or fight your ticket; and
– three demerit points applied to your driver’s record.
Drivers who endanger others because of any distraction, including hand-held and hands-free devices, may be charged with careless driving or even dangerous driving.
