Distracted driving deaths on the rise: OPP [Video]

Essex County OPP say it’s not a new request, but reducing distracted driving remains important as the problem persists.

“What we’re looking for people to do is put your phone away.” said OPP Const. Steven Duguay.

The plea is not exclusive to law enforcement, some residents also feel the same way.

“Put your phone away,”said Diana Cote. “It’s not important when you’re driving down the road. It could wait until you park.”

According to the OPP, the number of fatal collisions caused by distracted driving is up more than 40 per cent in the province compared to this time last year.

“We’re conditioned to our phones,” said Duguay. “We hear the tone from our text message, from our social media is going off, and we’re conditioned response to it. We got to grab our phone and look right away.”

During a stop in the Central Mall parking lot in Windsor, …