The OPP is reporting that 2016 is the fourth consecutive year that distracted driving is the leading cause of death.
Last year distracted driving caused 65 deaths on OPP patrolled roads compared to 55 speed related, 53 seatbelt related, and 45 alcohol related deaths.
Sergeant Kerry Schmidt says he isn’t surprised by the numbers as distracted driving has been the number one factor in deaths since the stat started being recorded back in 2009, save for 2012.
Schmidt says a distracted driving charge specifically stems from holding a device in your hand while driving. The OPP can also lay a careless driving charge for when you are distracted and not holding your device, in instances such as not looking at the roadway and talking to other people in the vehicle.
The statistics were released as the OPP are set to start their Distracted Driving Campaign over March Break next week.
