CAA launch distracted driving campaign Tuesday
Posted July 30, 2013 4:07 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO – The Canadian Automobile Association, the Toronto police and the OPP launched a four-week campaign against distracted driving on Tuesday.
The campaign — which is called “Missing” — aims to raise awareness about high-risk driving behaviours on the road.
680News reporter Charlene Close drove while distracted in a Toronto police cruiser as a test, with Toronto police driving instructor constable Arshad Khawaja riding shotgun.
Close was surprised how much she slowed down as she was turning a corner while text-messaging.
“That’s what a lot of people do. They end up slowing right down and all of a sudden you end up causing a hazard by your vehicle going so slow on the road,” Cst. Khawaja said.
No orange pylons were injured in the driving test but it was very close — not something one wants to do if you’re on a real road.
According to the CAA, driver distraction is a factor in over four-million crashes each year in North America.
Distracted driving is also the number one cause of fatal crashes on OPP-patrolled roads in 2013.
According to CAA, drivers who text while driving are 23 times more likely to crash their vehicle.
Drivers who talk on their phone are four to five times more likely to be involved in a crash.
