Ontario Provincial Police: Distracted Driving Now the #1 Killer on Roads

Distracted driving which can involve texting and driving or checking your smartphone has surpassed both impaired and speed related fatalities in 2013, according to Ontario Provincial Police. Last year, 78 persons died in distracted driving related accidents versus 57 impaired driving deaths and 44 speed related:

“When you consider the overall impact of these 78 fatalities last year and the 325 other distracted driving victims who have died since 2010, the number of people these irresponsible drivers have had a profound and devastating impact on is in the thousands,” said OPP Deputy Commissioner Brad Blair, Commander of Traffic Safety and Operational Support.

According to the CAA, those who talk on their phones are four times more likely to crash while those texting are 23 times more likely to be involved in a collision.

The OPP reiterated distracted driving fines will reach $280 on March 18, 2014. Their Distracted Driving Campaign runs from March 8 to March 14 and is encouraging everyone to concentrate on the road. Do us all a favour and just drive when you’re in the car. Put down your iPhone, ham sandwich or bucket of KFC already.

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