(Photo: File)
Provincial Police are releasing some alarming numbers about accidents involving distracted drivers, in an attempt to get people to put their phones down, while they’re behind the wheel.
OPP say they have already investigated more than 5,600 crashes involving inattentive drivers this year, with those incidents leading to 31 deaths and more than 1,000 injuries.
In the past 10 years, almost 740 deaths have been linked to distracted driving on provincial roadways.
Ahead of the Labour Day Weekeend, authorities say they will be taking a zero tolerance approach “to drivers who direct anything less than 100% of their attention to driving”, especially with children and other students making their way to and from school beginning next week.
Police say simply holding your phone can lead to charges and the penalties for distracted driving are set to rise significantly as of January 1, 2019.
Penalties could include a fine of up to $1,000 and three demerit points.
Also as of the start of next year, novice drivers will face a 30-day licence suspension on a first distracted driving conviction, a 90-day suspension on a second conviction and a full cancellation and removal from the graduated licencing system on a third.
