Between Monday, January 14, 2019 to Sunday, January 20, 2019, the Toronto Police Service delivered a zero-tolerance enforcement and awareness traffic safety campaign focused on drivers operating a motor vehicle while using a hand-held communication or entertainment device, including cell phones. Distracted Driving Campaign Results: 670 drivers charged.
Toronto Police Service Officers patrolled for distracted drivers on foot, bicycles, unmarked police vehicles, pick-up trucks and on TTC buses and streetcars.
Zero tolerance enforcement was a large part of this campaign. This campaign caused many public and private discussions to happen about the impact that distracted driving has on our roads and to our communities. Driving while holding a cell phone happens far too often, we all see people doing it.
A clear message needs to be sent to all drivers that when you are behind the wheel, your only focus should be on the task of driving.
RoadTest Viewpoint…
We are 100% behind these type of blitzes, but it’s only a tiny part of the problem.
- Someone sitting at a set of traffic lights is never going to hit someone or cause an accident, but someone driving will.
- If all police vehicles had two officers in them (as per the rest of the world), one officer will easily see offenders where it happens the most – while actually driving!
- Since mobile phones were first introduced to the general population back in the mid-80’s, we’ve been told to pull over and stop when talking on the phone – does this mean that we can no longer do that for fear of getting a ticket?
- Is the use of laptops while driving exempt from the crime? I wonder if they handed any tickets to their fellow officers… typing into a laptop is also considered a hands-free device, but I’m sure they have special training on how to do that while driving, therefore, making them completely absolved of the crime. Unless of course there one law for us and another from them…
Copyright © 2019 by Iain Shankland. All rights reserved.
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