670 drivers charged during Toronto police distracted driving blitz
Posted January 22, 2019 11:26 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Toronto police have released the results of last week’s zero tolerance distracted driving campaign.
Police say between Monday and Sunday, officers charged 670 drivers.
During the week, police patrolled Toronto streets on foot, bicycles, unmarked police vehicles, pick up trucks, as well as on TTC buses and streetcars.
Tougher distracted driving laws came into effect across the province on Jan. 1. Drivers will now face higher fines and stiffer penalties if they aren’t focused on the road. Distracted driving includes texting, checking maps, eating, reading and even typing a destination into the GPS.
“Distracted driving continues to be a major contributor to deaths and injuries and collisions, including in particular, those involving pedestrians and cyclists,” Mayor John Tory said ahead of the blitz.
“It must become a thing of the past.”
Police say driving while holding a cell phone still happens far too often. They want to send a clear message that when you are behind the wheel, your only focus should be on driving.
