Nearly 20 per cent of fatal car crashes in Ontario are caused by distracted driving, a new report reveals.
On Tuesday, insurance company HelloSafe Canada released new details about distracted driving statistics across the province and how they’ve been on the rise since 2019.
Distracted driving is defined as any source of interruption while operating a vehicle, including texting, programming a GPS, grooming and eating and drinking.
In 2021, 17.9 per cent of deaths on roads in Ontario were caused by distracted driving, compared to 14.4 per cent in 2019.
In 2022, 105 people died from distracted driving in Ontario, marking a 36 per cent increase in two years.
Nationally, an estimated 1,768 Canadians have lost their lives due to a fatal collision in 2021, with distracted driving being responsible for nearly 20 per cent of road deaths across the country.
As for fines and penalties for distracted driving, Ontario is among the strictest provinces in the country. For a first conviction, drivers could be fined between $615-$1,000 and gain three demerit points, while a second conviction could result in a $615-$2,000 fine and six demerit points. Meanwhile, a first conviction could result in a three-day licence suspension, while a second conviction could result in a seven-day suspension.
This study compiled the most recent available statistics on distracted driving in Ontario and Canada from sources such as Transport Canada, the Government of Ontario, Statistics Canada and the CAA, according to HelloSafe.
