Distracted driving not improving, says Windsor Police Service

Drivers in Windsor are still unable to put their phones away while behind the wheel, according to police.

Windsor police officers are making just as many traffic stops related to distracted driving as they have in recent years, said Sgt. Steve Betteridge.

Since the start of 2018, Windsor police have already issued 111 infractions for distracted driving. In 2017, police issued 787 infractions.

“It’s about the same … the temptation to check the device is just too great,” said Betteridge.

Enisa Hyseni is a first-year Community & Justice Services student at St. Clair College and has personally been affected by distracted driving.

“One of my best friends, almost a year ago, passed away from someone who was texting and driving … I had another friend who got hit by a car. He survived, but the driver was going too fast and also talking to the passenger in the back seat,” said Hyseni.

Some young people say they know why distracted driving is still a big issue.

“I think drivers have found different ways to hide the fact that they are texting and driving and are inventing new ways to be more creative than they have been in the past. But obviously, they’re still getting caught,” said Alexis Ladia, a third-year University of Windsor business student.

According to the Canadian Automobile Association, about one quarter of all car crashes involve phone use, including hands-free devices.

Drivers engaged in “visual-manual interactions” with cell phones are up to eight times as likely to be involved in a crash, according to the U.S.-based AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

Betteridge reminds drivers that distracted driving is not limited to just texting.

“I’ve caught people shaving and reading a newspaper while operating a motor vehicle,” said Betteridge.

He added the Windsor Police Service remains optimistic that awareness education will decrease instances of distracted driving.

“Turn [your device] off or throw it in your glove box,” said Betteridge.