March is distracted driving/occupant restraint awareness month.

Fort St John

2022-03-15 07:53 PDT

File # PSA - March Belts & Cells

BC RCMP and other police agencies across the province kicked off their annual Distracted Driving/ Occupant Restraint campaign on March 1st with an enforcement blitz, followed by stepped up distracted driving and seatbelt enforcement throughout the month.

Distracted driving is the second leading contributing factor in traffic fatalities, behind speed and ahead of impaired driving, and contributes to more than one in four deaths on B.C. roads. All of which are fully preventable if drivers were to slow down, leave their phone alone while driving, and refrain from driving impaired.

Distracted driving includes:

• using an electronic device including texting, calling, scrolling for music or using it as a GPS,
• listening to music using both earbuds,
• having your dog loose in your lap or arms,
• personal grooming such as shaving or putting on makeup,
• eating and/or drinking.

Distracted Driving legislation has been in place since 2010 and there is not a lot of leniency exercised by police or the courts. Fines for Using an Electronic Device while Driving start at $368 plus 4 penalty points ($210 value) for a minimum of $578 and further fines going up from there for subsequent offences.

Seatbelt enforcement is also a focus for the month of March. Even though people have become more diligent in wearing their seatbelts, there are still fatal collisions that occur that could have been prevented if their seatbelts had been worn.

Most collisions occur close to home so no matter how far you are driving, please buckle up, said Cst Chad NEUSTAETER. Fines for not wearing a seatbelt are $167. Additional fines can be issued for children who are unrestrained or improperly restrained with tickets for $109.

Police across the province have utilized various tools to enforce the distracted driving laws, such as foot patrols, using long range telescopes, check stops, and even dressing up as construction workers in efforts to protect the driving public.

You could prevent a collision by leaving your phone alone and save a life by wearing your seatbelt. Your family and friends will thank you for it!

For additional information:

Distracted driving 

Seatbelts

Child restraints

Released by

Cst. Chad Neustaeter

Email: chad.neustaeter@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

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