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OPP says Distracted Driving is now the ‘number one Killer on Roads’

distracted driving

The OPP has released some stats from 2013 and boldly states that drinking and driving has taken a back seat and Distracted Driving the front as the “#1 Killer on Roads.”

According to the report, a total of 78 people died from distracted driving related collisions in 2013. This number is significantly higher than the 57 deaths caused by impaired driving, or the 44 caused by high-speed related deaths last year.

Brad Blair, OPP Deputy Commissioner, said “Everyone, from the victims’ families and friends to the police officers who attend these horrific collision scenes and have to notify next-of-kin, knows the emotional impact of one life lost to this senseless driving behaviour trickles down to so many people who, sadly, through experience, know how badly this behaviour needs to stop.”

To drive this point home, the OPP will be hitting the streets this coming weekend and “will be doing its part to eliminate the threat of distracted driving” by “focused enforcement” in the province.

Ontario is preparing to increase the fine for using your mobile device while driving from $155 to $280 on March 18th — this includes talking, emailing, texting, surfing the web, or even holding your device while driving. This monetary jump will hopefully reduce the number of accidents and make the roads a bit safer.

Source: OPP

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