Provincial police in Essex County are reporting that a total of 330 charges were laid during their recent campaign to combat distracted driving.
Project Stop Texting and Travel Safely (STATS) started in mid-September and concluded this week. Police said it was clear that distracted driving was a significant problem in this month-long initiative. The OPP said it truly provided a clear indication of what is happening on local roads and proves there is further work to do. Drivers received heavy fines after being spotted on cellular devices or distracted behind the wheel.
The OPP added officers will continue to patrol, stop and charge those who choose not to follow the law. They also plan to attend and educate area high school students about distracted driving.
Police said on October 22 and 23 alone, officers conducted aircraft intercept patrols along the Highway 401 corridor and Highway 3 resulting in 41 vehicles being stopped and 27 speeding charges issued. Officers also handed out 11 tickets for following too closely and 10 tickets for other infractions.
"It is our ongoing collective effort to bring about sustainable change with regard to distracted driving in Essex County," said Glenn Miller, Essex County OPP detachment commander. "You will continue to see throughout our policing area a strict level of enforcement by all OPP officers particularly in those areas in which personal injury and fatal collisions are occurring."
"The current fines are expensive and will rise even further in 2019," he said. "I urge all motorists to comply with our traffic laws for arriving safely at your intended destination."