Traffic safety blitz to target distracted drivers next week

(Ottawa) – As part of the Leave the Phone Alone distracted driving campaign, Ottawa Police will be conducting a distracted driving safety blitz December 15 to 19.

In 2013, 40% of collisions in Ottawa involved distracted driving. If statistics continue at the present rate, distracted driving will be the number one cause of injuries and fatalities on our roadways, surpassing impaired driving, by 2016.

“Police want to remind drivers that texting or talking while driving is both dangerous and illegal,” said Ottawa Police Sgt. Mark Gatien of the Traffic Escort Section. “Driving requires one’s full attention at all times, even when stopped at traffic lights. Even an instant of distraction can result in a collision.”

Distracted driving collisions are on the rise and are a concern for all road users. Between 2009 and 2013, there were 23,283 collisions resulting in 6,463 injuries and 18 fatalities in Ottawa.

One of the goals of the Leave the Phone Alone campaign is to change behaviour around cell phone use while driving.

To demonstrate the severity of the problem, Ottawa Police recently conducted a four day city-wide traffic enforcement blitz targeting cell phone use by drivers. Between November 18 and 21, a total of 486 Provincial Offence Notices were issued and 261 of these were related to cell phone use by drivers.

The Highway Traffic Act offence Drive – Hand Held Communication Device carries a total fine of $280.00.

“We can hand out fines, but police want drivers to realize they are putting themselves and everyone else at risk when they use their phones while driving,” said Sgt. Gatien. “No text is worth your life or that of others. Leave the phone alone.”

Everyone has a role to play in preventing texting or talking while driving.

Drivers can simply put the phone away while driving;
Passengers can remind drivers to focus on their driving if they reach for the phone;
Children can remind parents not to drive distracted;
Phone users can first ensure that the person they are calling or texting isn’t driving. If they are, tell them to wait until they can safely talk or text.
You can take the pledge not to text and drive at https://leavethephonealone.ca/pledge.php