File photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo / dolgachovFile photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo / dolgachov
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Dozens Charged In Distracted Driving Blitz

It was a costly March Break for 34 drivers in Elgin County who were busted for inattentive driving.

OPP zeroed in on distracted drivers during a blitz last week. They say the infraction has been the deadliest kind of bad behaviour behind the wheel for five consecutive years.

So far this year, Elgin OPP have investigated 172 crashes, 7% of which were blamed on distracted drivers. That number is quickly catching up to those from the previous year, when 14% of all collisions in the county were the result of drivers not focused on the road.

"It is clear that some people are simply not getting the message of how dangerous distracted driving is and continue to disregard other peoples safety as well as their own," said Constable Troy Carlson.

Provincially, 83 deaths in 2017 were caused by collisions due to distracted driving, according to the OPP.

The fine for anyone busted for distracted driving is $490 and three demerit points.

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(File photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo Inc. / dehooks)

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