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Distracted driving charges rise once again in 2017

January 26, 2018   ·   0 Comments

By Mike Pickford

One of the biggest threats to traffic and pedestrian safety in Ontario is on the rise once again in Orangeville.

In a release to media this week, Orangeville Police Chief Wayne Kalinski stated distracted driving charges in the community have increased for the fourth straight year – a cause for “great concern” to the local force.

“The increased use of cellular phones while driving is of great concern,” said Chief Kalinski. “Taking your eyes off the road for a few seconds to respond to a call or text message has the potential for very serious consequences. Drivers need to start turning their devices off and pay attention to the road to avoid needless tragedies.”

Here in town, Orangeville police officers charged 64 motorists with distracted driving in 2017 – a 14 percent increase from 2016. In total, distracted driving offences in Orangeville have soared by more than 540 percent since 2014.

Described by OPP officials as one of Ontario’s fastest rising killers, distracted driving has now overtaken speeding and driving under the influence as the number one cause of death on provincial roads. In 2016, 65 people were killed in OPP-investigated crashes where inattentive drivers were involved. Official statistics for 2017 were unavailable as of press time.

Provincial law makes it illegal for drivers to talk, text, type, dial or email using hand-held cell phones and other hand-held communications and entertainment devices. The use of hands-free devices is still permitted and drivers may use hand-held devices to call 911.

According to statistics posted on the Ontario government website, a driver using a cell phone is four times more likely to crash than a driver focusing on the road. Provincial data shows that one person is injured in a distracted-driving collision every half-hour.

“Far too many drivers are still not obeying the law,” said OPS Public and Media Relations Officer Constable Scott Davis. “Distracted driving is a killer on our roads and highways right across our province. Tragedies related to distracted driving are largely preventable if motorists simply do not engage in behaviours that put them, their passengers, other drivers, cyclists and pedestrians at risk.”

The OPS is eager to remind motorists that distracted driving is a threat to public safety on the road. Fully licensed individuals caught and charged with distracted driving for a first offence face a fine of $490 if settled out of court and three demerit points applied to their driver’s record. Offenders could face a fine of up to $1,000 if they receive a summons or fight a ticket. Novice drivers convicted of distracted driving will have their license suspended for 30 days for a first offence, 90 days for a second offence and licence cancellation and removal from the Graduated Licensing System for a third offence.

Drivers who endanger others because of any form of distraction may be charged either with distracted driving under the Highway Traffic Act, or dangerous driving under the Criminal Code of Canada. Both charges carry heavy fines and penalties, if convicted, including six demerit points, fines of up to $2,000 and/or a jail term of six months, and up to a two-year licence suspension in the case of careless driving. Dangerous driving is a criminal offence and includes a jail term of up to five years.

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