The Chatham-Kent Police Service is supporting a province-wide road safety campaign to tackle distracted driving, which is the top threat to safety on roadways across Ontario.
The 2016 Drive Safe! R.I.D.E. traffic safety campaign (#DriveSafe) is promoted by the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP).
“There’s no debate. Distracted driving is a killer on our roads and highways right across our Province,” said Chief Gary Conn.
“Deaths related to distracted driving are largely preventable if motorists simply do not engage in behaviours that put them, their passengers, other drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians at risk.”
Examples of distracted driving behaviours that police officers consistently reports include: using a mobile device, eating and drinking, talking to passengers, grooming, use of a navigation system, and changing the radio, CD or other type of music player.
The 2016 Drive Safe! R.I.D.E. traffic safety campaign features a booklet with information on Ontario’s distracted driving and move over laws.
Also included is helpful information from all Drive Safe! partners to help Ontarians make the right choices when it comes to driving. Besides distracted driving, the booklet also has information on the dangers of drinking and driving, stoned driving, and stunt driving.
This OACP campaign is made possible through the support of our partners: Accident Support Services International Ltd., Allstate Insurance Company of Canada, Canadian Tire Corporation, Insurance Bureau of Canada, LCBO, Molson Coors Canada, Ontario Association of Cemetery and Funeral Professionals, Ontario Funeral Services Association, Ontario Ministry of Transportation, Smart Serve Ontario, The Beer Store, Toronto Blue Jays, VIA Rail Canada, and Yada.
To download the 2016 Drive Safe Booklet, please see http://ckpolice.com/drive-safe-campaign/
Distracted Driving Facts:
– Provincial statistics show that distracted driving-related deaths eclipsed drunk driving fatalities for the seventh-straight year in 2015 (Ontario Provincial Police)
– Driver distraction is a factor in approximately 4 million motor vehicle crashes in North America each year (Canadian Automobile Association)
– 2000 Canadians die every year from motor vehicle collisions. Distracted driving contributes to at least 350 fatalities annually, but the number is likely higher as distracted driving is under reported (Parachute Canada)
– Distracted drivers are 4 times more likely to be in a crash than attentive drivers (Parachute Canada)
– 10% of all drivers 15 to 19 years old involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crashes. This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted at the time of the crashes. (U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2013)
– Economic losses caused by traffic collision-related health care and lost productivity account for at least $10 billion annually or about 1% of Canada’s GDP (Government of Canada)
