OPP charge rubberneckers
Most motorists will agree that rubbernecking is one of the great scourges of modern society.
A fender bender on the Don Valley Parkway can turn into a nightmare, leaving traffic backed up for kilometres, as drivers slow down to take a look.
But police now have a tool that may curb rubbernecking: distracted driving.
Around 5:30 a.m. Thursday, a dump truck’s bucket somehow became unlashed, crashing into an overpass on Hwy. 403. The bucket was wedged into the bridge and took about five hours to clear.
Motorists being motorists took a good, long look at the scene as they rolled by. Some even whipped their phones out and snapped photos. The OPP took the opportunity to nail those drivers.
At least 12 were charged with distracted driving. Call it new-age rubbernecking. “We see this time and time again at these major crash scenes,” OPP Sgt. Dave Woodford told CP24.
The resulting fine: up to $155. Distracted driving can lead to careless driving charges, where fines range from $400 to $2,000, potential licence suspension and up to six months in jail.
Distracted driving laws came into effect in 2009, making it illegal to talk, text or use a phone in any manner while driving.
Peel Regional Police recently completed a campaign against distracted driving, issuing 343 tickets over a week that ended Sunday. This represented a 6-per-cent increase in tickets issued last year.
“It’s hard to say if the problem is getting worse,” said Peel police Const. Fiona Thivierge. “But it certainly isn’t getting better.” Soon after the overpass crash happened Thursday morning, a multiple car collision occurred on the same highway near Winston Churchill Blvd. Police say the accident may have been caused by distracted drivers. Studies show drivers using their phones are four times more likely to be involved in a crash than undistracted drivers, according to the Ministry of Transportation. It’s unclear how many drivers cruising by a crash snap photos. “We’re not keeping stats on how they’re driving distracted,” said Const. Hugh Smith with Toronto traffic services. “It’s happening because the technology is there. I think we’ll have to make some new laws to keep up with technology.” George Wu, 27, strolling along Yonge St. with Snoop Lion booming from his headphones, said he’s taken the odd photo while driving. “But I also hate rubberneckers. I’d never take a pic of a car accident.” With files from Dylan Robertson