Distracted Driving Numbers Up

With distracted driving a major cause for accidents SGI and Saskatchewan police forces concentrated on enforcement during October’s Traffic Safety Spotlight the result was a record number of tickets issued for the offense.

During October 793 tickets were issued for distracted driving with 688 for cellphone use while driving and 105 for driving without due care and attention. making it the highest number of tickets issued for the offence during a month long Traffic Safety Spotlight.

Despite strong enforcement by the police, a $280 fine and four demerits on a driving record people still continue to drive distracted, a press release stated. A second cellphone ticket within a year carries a one week vehicle seizure.

Recently British Columbia moved towards a $1000 fine for using a cellphone while driving to combat distracted driving in that province.

Distracted driving is the number one human factor in all vehicle collisions. In 2017 it was a factor in 6000 collisions, contributing to 26 deaths and 950 injuries.

During the November Traffic Safety Spotlight the program targeted suspended and unregistered vehicles those statistics will be released at a later time.