Remember Josh this Labour Day weekend

Josh Field was popular at school, loved playing the drums and was starting flying lessons.

The 17-year-old was Kathryn Field's only son.

"Josh was just a real entertaining wonderful character," said Field. "He was just so full of life. That's what is part of the tragedy that he had so much life inside of him that he would have gone on and done amazing things and it was cut short."

The London-area teen was driving home from a doctor's appointment in June 2009 when he went to grab a ringing cell phone in his pocket and hand it to his girlfriend.

That simple act had a tragic, fatal consequence.   

"It was that small distraction that caused him to look away from the road and he was heading towards another car," recalled Field who said Josh tried to over-correct and lost control.

"He suffered a severe impact to the back of his head and was declared brain dead. And it was all just for the sake of trying to get a phone out of his pocket."

As the OPP prepares to launch its Distracted Driving Campaign over the Labour Day long weekend, the force has released sobering statistics. 

Provincial police say that for the first time since Ontario distracted driving laws were introduced in 2009, driver inattention-related road deaths are poised to double the number of impaired-related deaths this year.

As of mid-August, officers they have investigated 38 road deaths in which an inattentive driver was involved, compared to 19 deaths involving an impaired driver.

"Texting and driving is very dangerous, and puts everyone on the road at risk," said OPP Deputy Commissioner Brad Blair.  "This Labour Day long weekend, we remind everyone to follow the rules of the road, put down the phone and do their part to ensure a safe end to the summer.” 

Field is disappointed by the numbers but not surprised.

She says people are still not getting the message but she has one of her own about the life-altering results of distracted driving. 

"I would say that losing Josh through distracted driving affected us, my family, all his friends. It affected everybody. It's like a ripple in a pond," she said.  "We lost our son through something that was preventable.  He needn't have tried to answer that phone. No phone call is worth losing your life."

Josh's girlfriend suffered only minor physical injuries in the collision but the emotional trauma will never heal.

He also left behind a sister who was 15 when Josh died and has vowed to do well in her life to honour his memory. 

Josh's parents managed to carry on by trying to educate all drivers about the risks of distracted driving - and the cost.

For Kathryn life will never be the same.  

"I miss him everyday and I'm going to miss him for the rest of my life," she said.  "We all are. It's so important.  Please."