(PERTH COUNTY, ON) During this week (February 13th – 19th, 2012) Perth County OPP officers will be working in conjunction with OPP officers throughout the province to participate in the OPP Distracted Driving Campaign.
The Distracted Driving Campaign is in response to the “Countering Distracted Driving and Promoting Green Transportation Act which became law on October 26, 2009. This legislation prohibits the use of electronic devices while the vehicle is being operated. GPS navigation devices, communication devices (with hands free system only), and vehicle information systems are allowed.
It is recognized that distracted driving is a major contributing factor in motor vehicle collisions. As such, Perth County OPP officers will be actively conducting static and mobile patrols using a variety of police vehicles in an attempt observe violators and take subsequent enforcement action. A distracted driver can be fined $155 at the roadside, but the cost can be far greater if the distracted driver causes a serious personal injury or fatal crash.
Electronic devices are wonderful tools which can save us time and provide us with valuable information, but they can also result in drivers being distracted and creating unacceptable risks to public safety on the road. If you really need to text or answer that call while driving, pull over and stop in a safe place. Your friends, family and fellow Ontarians will love you for it.
