Toronto police kicked off a distracted driving campaign with the use of a hearse to underline the dangers of using a cell phone while behind the wheel.
The week-long campaign — “That Text or Call Could End It All” — began on Monday and runs until Sunday.
It was officially launched on Hanna Avenue in Liberty Village at 6 a.m. on Tuesday.
Officers will be paying special attention to drivers who drive while distracted, hindering their ability to safely operate their vehicle.
The purpose of the safety blitz is to “highlight all dangerous activities associated with drivers who talk, text, type, dial or email using hand-held communication and entertainment devices,” police said in a release.
“Distracted drivers are a safety risk to themselves and other road users.”
Both stealth and fully-marked police vehicles will also be used during the campaign, along with a hearse.
Since 2011, police said they have laid over 82,000 charges for distracted driving offences in Toronto.
Driver picked up her phone for 2 seconds. That was enough for @TorontoPolice to nab her #distracteddriving @BTtoronto pic.twitter.com/SAX2KCLl9z
— Melanie Ng (@CityMelanie) February 17, 2015
Do you think the use of a hearse is an effective tactic to crack down on distracted driving? Tell us in the comments section below.
