Don't Drive Distracted on the Long Weekend

By Stew Kernan

The final long weekend of summer is here and Northeast Region OPP want it to be a safe one.

That’s the message Sgt Carolle Dionne has for motorists.

Dionne says 31 people have died in 27 fatal collisions across the Northeast — with the majority as a result of distracted driving.

So far this year in Ontario there have been 41 deaths attributed to distracted driving.

Police also say the number of collisions caused by distracted drivers, province-wide, is up 20 percent over last year at this time.

Earlier this week the province increased the set fines for distracted driving to $490 plus three demerit points.