Chatham-Kent OPP statistics for 2017 bucked the rising provincial trend for most driving offences.
Most of them on OPP patrolled roads like Hwy. 401 across Chatham-Kent were down last year compared to 2016.
Stats from CK OPP Constable Jay Denorer show that distracted driving charges jumped to 179 last year compared to 167 in 2016 but speeding, seatbelt and impaired offences decreased. Speeding offences went from 5570 to 4807, seatbelt charges dropped from 134 to 78 and impaired charges declined from 40 to 34.
Total local violations went down from 8486 to 7984 while traffic stops also decreased from 9352 to 8199.
In the West OPP region, 28 inattentive drivers were behind 64 road fatalities on OPP-patrolled roads in 2016 compared to 26 inattentive drivers behind 83 fatalities last year.
