Distracted Driving Deaths Are Up Across Ontario

Provincial police are warning drivers to put their phones away when behind the wheel — inattentive-related, or distracted driving, deaths are up 18 per cent across Ontario over the same time last year.

“It’s still summer vacation for many people,” said OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt on Monday.

“Please think about your actions and don’t depend on good luck and chance. You have to make wise decisions.”

The same number of people - 183 - have died on roads patrolled by Ontario Provincial Police this year.

The number is identical to 2016.

“We’re spot-on for what we saw last year, which is not a record we want to continue to see,” said Schmidt.

“We want to see these numbers decline.”

And collision reconstruction investigators have broken down the statistics further.

Every year, the “Big Four” account for the majority of deaths on OPP-patrolled roads: alcohol/drug use, inattentive driving, speeding and not wearing seat belts.

“Every one of those categories has seen an increase in the number of road deaths this year compared to the same period last year,” said Schmidt, adding, “all collisions should be preventable.”

File photo courtesy of OPP