Driver accused of tailgating while on his phone slapped with hefty fine
Police slapped a motorist with a hefty fine Friday morning in Whitchurch-Stouffville as they patrol the roads for careless drivers this long weekend.
York Regional Police (YRP) say they spotted the driver using his phone while travelling on Stouffville Road.
"We caught him head down, tailgating in the fast lane," police posted to social media about the incident. "It helped that this driver didn't even try to conceal his white iPhone after he was stopped."
This week, provincial police released recent data indicating a troubling trend.
Police say the latest stats recorded 107 fatalities so far in 2022 linked to poor or careless driving behaviours.
OPP says its officers will be monitoring for other infractions as well, including speeding, impairment, and inattentiveness.
OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt told CTV News that people who choose to look at their phones instead of focusing on the road while driving is a problem that's getting progressively worse.
Police say the Whitchurch-Stouffville driver was fined $615.
"Do you have $615 burning a hole in your pocket?" YRP tweeted.
Scmidt also suggested drivers pack their patience on the roads.
"You may think you have all the time in the world to get to your destination, but all of a sudden, you get stuck in traffic. Now people feel like they're missing out on their weekend, and the time is so precious they don't want to lose a second of it.
That's when they start tailgating, pushing traffic, following too close and driving in a manner that's just inappropriate."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Why drivers in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada will see a gas price spike, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
How to avoid the trap of becoming 'house poor'
The journey to home ownership can be exciting, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew warns about the trappings of becoming 'house poor' -- where an overwhelming portion of your income is devoured by housing costs. Liew offers some practical strategies to maintain better financial health while owning a home.
Toxic forever chemicals in drinking water: Is Canada doing enough?
As the United States sets its first national limits on toxic forever chemicals in drinking water, researchers say Canada is lagging when it comes to regulations.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
McDonald's customers left with 'zero value' collection of free hot drink stickers after company ends program
It took years for Vinnie Deluca to collect more than 400 cards worth of free McDonald's McCafe coffee, a collection that now has "zero value" after the company discontinued the program.
Biden scores endorsements from Kennedy family, looking to shore up support against Trump and RFK Jr.
U.S. President Joe Biden will accept endorsements from at least 15 members of the Kennedy political family during a campaign stop in Philadelphia on Thursday as he aims to undermine Donald Trump and marginalize the candidacy of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Where did the gold go? Crime expert weighs in on unfolding Pearson airport heist investigation
Almost 7,000 bars of pure gold were stolen from Pearson International Airport exactly one year ago during an elaborate heist, but so far only a tiny fraction of that stolen loot has been found.
When new leaders took over in ancient Maya, they didn't just bury the former royals. They burned their bodies in public
New archeological investigations in Guatemala reveal that the ancient Maya people had a ritual of burning royal human remains as a public display of political regime change.
Party's over: Coyotes play final game as Arizona franchise before move to Salt Lake City
Mullett Arena buzzed like few times in the two years since the Arizona Coyotes moved in, the fans amped for one last desert hurrah.