OPP rev up their campaign against distracted drivers

Posted Feb 16, 2012 By EMC News

EMC News - "No excuses, no exceptions."

The Arnprior OPP is reminding drivers they are on the look-out for distracted drivers this week.

The local detachment issued a news release advising they will taking the "no excuses, no exceptions" approach as they target distracted drivers all week through to Sunday.

The province-wide OPP campaign, the fourth held in the past year, is running Feb. 13 to 19, with the OPP conducting highly-visible enforcement of distracted driving laws "in an effort to protect drivers, their passengers and other roads users from the needless loss of life on our roads."

The OPP is warning motorists that any activity that takes their attention away from driving is dangerous. The campaign isn't just about using a phone or texting while driving, stresses the police. Even day-dreaming can create a situation where the driver misses something important that could result in a bad decision behind the wheel, they note.

DEATHS

"We're only five weeks into the new year and eight people have died already in distraction-related collisions on OPP patrolled roads and that's more than impaired driving and speeding fatalities combined," said Chief Superintendent Don Bell, Commander of the OPP Highway Safety Division.

"Whether you're texting, talking, reading or shaving, a diversion - any diversion of attention that lowers one's ability to focus on driving can happen and within seconds, someone else could die," he added.

Sydney and Suzanne Soulière are far too familiar with the dangers of distracted driving. Sadly, they lost their 18-year-old son Damon in a distracted driving incident on May 28, 2011. Damon was on his way home from North Bay, Ontario when he began texting while driving. His vehicle crossed the centre line, collided with a tractor-trailor and Damon died as a result of the collision.

"For the love of our son and his accomplishments, please don't be distracted and drive - no more excuses," urge the Soulieres. "We know it kills or injures and you're risking your life and the lives of others on the road.

"We hope the death of our son and those who have died, young and old, due to distracted driving show you that it's not worth it. Believe us, it's not. Our son was going into the Armed Forces to serve his country and help people. He was a good boy who made a mistake and now, getting the message out about the dangers of distracted driving is the only way he can help."

The Soulieres invite the public to check out Damon's Facebook Page to see him as an 18-year-old captain of his high school rugby team and a Canadian Forces soldier who would have been finishing his first year of university.