North Vancouver RCMP issue 140+ distracted driving tickets in 1 month
Posted April 13, 2023 6:07 pm.
Last Updated April 13, 2023 6:11 pm.
Mounties in North Vancouver issued what amounted to nearly four distracted driving tickets per day over the month of March.
It was for Distracted Driving Month, which prompted the North Vancouver RCMP to elevate enforcement of the offence.
In total, 146 tickets and six warnings were issued for Use of Electronic Device while driving, police say. Mounties say they took aim at “high crash intersections” in the city. In one case, police say an officer saw three different instances at one time, resulting in tickets for all three.
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Sgt. Denis Beaulieu says looking at an electronic device while behind the wheel can be very dangerous.
“We still hear a lot of excuses from drivers about why they are using their phones. We most commonly see drivers checking their device when stopped at a red light. In those few seconds of distraction, a pedestrian could walk in front of your car, or another hazard could appear on the road that you may not be aware of,” he said. “The best practice is to keep your phone safely stored away for the duration of your journey to avoid the temptation of using it.”
According to the RCMP, distracted driving is responsible for more than a quarter of all crash fatalities in B.C., and is the second-leading cause of deadly collisions. It adds 77 people die every year on average because of the offence.
It’s not just looking at your phone that constitutes distracted driving, Mounties note. Doing things like personal grooming, eating or drinking, and reading all fall under the umbrella of the offence.
“Doing any of these things while driving may cause your trip to end in tragedy,” the RCMP says.
“Fatal and serious injury motor vehicle collisions due to distracted driving are completely preventable and it’s the North Vancouver RCMP’s main priority to keep the roads safe for all users.”
