FORT FRANCES, Ont. – OPP want to remind motorists to pay attention and keep eyes on the road at all times.
During March Break, Ontario Provincial Police officers throughout the province will be looking for persons driving while distracted.
This initiative is used to highlight this issue with our communities because distracted driving remains to be a leading cause of fatalities on highways.
Last year, 55 people were killed in crashes caused by inattentive and distracted drivers. Last year’s campaign resulted in 2,470 distraction-related charges within the province, 24 of those were in the Northwest Region.
Police say many drivers are aware that driving while using a handheld communication or entertainment device is an offence, but also under section 78 of the Highway Traffic Act it is an offence to drive with a screen visible to the driver. This could include watching a movie on a laptop or tablet while driving.
Offences under section 78 HTA have increased to a total payable amount of $615 and upon conviction, there is a three-day licence suspension imposed on the driver.
This licence suspension increases to seven days on the second conviction, and 30 days for the third.
Ontario's distracted driving laws are not limited to the offences already mentioned but also drivers need to be aware that if they are driving while being distracted they could also be charged for careless driving under section 130 HTA.
This could include anything which draws a driver's attention away from their driving such as adjusting a vehicle's GPS or stereo, eating and drinking, self-grooming, or tending to children while behind the wheel.
Under section 130 HTA drivers could be arrested, face fines up to $2,000, and have their licence suspended for up to two years.
If that distraction leads to injuries or death drivers could face charges under the HTA and Criminal Code with penalties including large fines, jail time, and lengthy driver's licence suspensions.
Drivers are reminded that for their safety and the safety of others their focus needs to be on driving when behind the wheel.