Distracted driving focus of OPP’s Labour Day weekend campaign

You wouldn’t drink and drive, so don’t text and drive.

Distracted driving-related road deaths are set to double the number of impaired-related deaths this year, reports Ontario Provincial Police.

As of mid-August, the OPP has investigated 38 road deaths in which an inattentive driver was involved, compared to 19 deaths involving an impaired driver.

Officers are calling on Ontarians to develop the same level of public intolerance of dangerous drivers as there is for impaired drivers.

While both are dangerous to the safety of road users, the latest data has OPP calling for a heightened awareness of the dangers of distracted driving.

“Don’t be a passenger of a distracted driver. Recognize that they are endangering your life. Speak up and insist that they focus on the road and on safe driving. By not doing so, you are contributing to the problem,” stated OPP Deputy Commissioner Brad Blair, provincial commander of traffic safety and operational Support, in a press release.

Since 2009, officers have investigated more than 600 road deaths that involved an inattentive driver, he added.

“Consider how many of those innocent lives could have been saved had someone else in the vehicle intervened,” Blair stated.

Over Labour Day the long weekend from Friday to Monday, OPP will be launching its Distracted Driving Campaign. Officers will also be on roads, waterways and trails to ensure everyone is being safe.

“As families enjoy the last long weekend of the summer, it is important that everyone remember the dangers of distracted driving. Texting and driving is very dangerous, and puts everyone on the road at risk,” stated Community Safety and Correctional Services Minister David Orazietti.

In addition, OPP has partnered up with the Ministry of Transportation to designate Four ONroute Highway Service Centres, including one in Port Hope, as Text Stops. This provides a safe way for drivers to stop and text. The other three service centre locations are King City, Cambridge North and Woodstock.

CLIFFORD SKARSTEDT/EXAMINER City police, firefighters and paramedics were called to a collision Bethune and Brock streets at about 10:42 a.m. on Thursday. One patient was taken by paramedics to Peterborough Regional Health Centre with non-life-threatening injuries. The...