One week highway blitz; 169 charges

In this Sept. 8, 2015, file photo, traffic flows along Highway 401, west of Cornwall, Ont. (Newswatch Group/File)

SD&G – Distracted driving and not wearing seatbelts continue to be a recurring problem in SD&G, based on results from a one week safety blitz.

The O.P.P. Highway Safety Division, the O.P.P. Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit and the Ministry of Transportation held the blitz May 6-13, 2016 on Highway 401 in South Glengarry and South Stormont.

Sixty-nine drivers were charged for driving while distracted, of which 29 were commercial vehicles. There were 48 seatbelt tickets issued – 44 of those for commercial drivers.

The balance of the 184 charges include other Highway Traffic Act violations, speeding and following too closely. Roughly 45 per cent of those charges were levelled at commercial vehicles and drivers.

A half-dozen commercial vehicles were also taken off the road for safety issues.