In 2023, Ontario witnessed a troubling rise in deaths caused by distracted driving, with the Ontario Provincial Police reporting 82 fatalities, a 43% increase from the previous year. This alarming statistic marks the highest toll in six years. Sgt. Kerry Schmidt emphasized the dangers of distractions, noting that focusing fully on driving is crucial. He highlighted that distractions can stem from various sources, including cell phones and outside stimuli. Experts stress the importance of preventing such deaths by eliminating distractions before driving, advocating for practices like setting phones to Do Not Disturb.
"If you're not looking where you're going, you're not paying attention," Sgt. Kerry Schmidt of the OPP's Highway Safety Division, said in a video on X. "You're not adjusting your driving to the conditions, you're putting yourself at risk."
"We can't have these numbers continue. We need to pay attention," he said. "It's not just getting a ticket, having a license suspended upon conviction or paying a hefty fine. You need to understand the consequences of being distracted. It could claim a life."
Michael Stewart, community relations consultant for CAA, said the number of deaths is shocking but distracted driving is easily preventable and it is a choice to engage in the behaviour.
"Get all distractions out of your system before you drive," Stewart said. "Set your phone on Do Not Disturb. Don't be tempted to look at it behind the wheel."
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