Leave the Phone Alone traffic safety blitz results in 89 tickets

As part of the Leave the Phone Alone distracted driving enforcement campaign, officers from the Ottawa Police Service Traffic Unit conducted a city wide enforcement blitz yesterday morning, targeting drivers using cell phones.

In total, 39 Provincial Offence Notices (PON) were issued for handheld communication device 37 PON for other offences and 33 other warning PON. The fine for handheld communication device is $490 and three demerit points.

“Driving requires your full attention and distracted driving puts yourself and others at risk,” said Ottawa Police East Division Traffic Sergeant Denis Hull. “The goal of the blitz is to remind drivers that it’s impossible to use your phone and drive safely.”

In the 2015 Public Survey< [ http://www.

ottawapolice.ca/en/News/index.

aspx?newsId=31e94dc9-1bd7-

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, distracted driving was listed as the number one concern of residents.

Everyone has a role to play in preventing texting or talking while driving. *       Drivers can simply put the phone away while driving; *       Passengers can remind drivers to focus on their driving if they reach for the phone; *       Children can remind parents not to drive distracted; *       Phone users can first ensure that the person they are calling or texting isn’t driving. If they are, tell them to wait until they can safely talk or text.

You can take the pledge not to text and drive at [ https://leavethephonealone.ca/

pledge.php ](https://leavethephonealone.ca/pledge.php)