TORONTO – Toronto police are targeting drivers in the downtown core this week, as part of the “Don’t Drive Distracted” campaign.
The blitz, which was launched Monday, focuses on dangerous activities associated with drivers who continue to use hand-held devices while driving.
Provincial legislation has been in effect since Oct. 26, 2009, focusing on educating drivers about Ontario’s new road laws and creating specific offences for these types of dangerous driving behaviours.
Legislation states that drivers can only use wireless devices which can be used in a hands-free manner. This includes:
- A cell phone with an earpiece or headset, which uses voice dialing or is plugged into the vehicle’s sound system
- A global positioning system (GPS) device which is properly secured to the dashboard or another accessible place in the vehicle
- A portable audio player plugged into the vehicle’s sound system
911 calls, however, are permitted under the laws.
Police say distracted driving is a major problem on our roads, and it’s something commuters agree on.
A driver named Ian said that on his drive to and from work, he encounters numerous drivers behaving badly.
“I most often see people looking down when they should be looking up. I mean, cars right in front of them and they’re just not paying attention,” he said. “It’s multi-tasking gone wild.”
Police note that other distractions can also contribute to distracted driving. These include eating while behind the wheel, driving with an unsecured pet, slowing down to look at a collision scene, or putting on makeup or brushing your hair.
The initiative wraps up on Sunday, Feb. 17.
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we need more enforcement EVERYWHERE. 403 all the @@5′s who change lanes in and out of HOV when they are not supposed to, cutting in from a dead stop.
401, qew, i saw one shaving two days ago doing about 20 to 30 km/hr slower then speed limit.
i lose 20 to 30 mins minimum each way due to people driving distracted, not driving properly, and people on the road that really should not have a license….. that time I SHOULD BE ABLE TO SPEND WITH MY TWO DAUGHTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why only in the downtown core?? This blitz should be EVERYWHERE
What about the people eating corn on the cob, flossing (with both hands and driving with elbows)? Smoking?
How about all those people that think its ok to drive while holding their dog in their lap, or letting it hang out the drivers window. ????
I wish there was more enforcement on the “slowing down to look at a collision scene” issue. It drives me crazy when I am attempting to maintain a consistent speed and distance from the vehicle ahead of me but so many drivers want to get a glance of someone else’s misery.
Well if it’s in the lanes of the direction you are going you SHOULD be slowing down anyways while passing the scene!
I’m pretty sure he meant on the other side. An accident/collision makes both sides slow down. Even the side where it didn’t occur All because people want to get a good look at someone else’s misery.