Nearly 30 motorists were hit with fines in a distracted driving enforcement blitz Wednesday in Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam.
During the two-hour enforcement blitz, Mounties pulled over 29 drivers for using an electronic device and issued them a $368 ticket. The fine also comes with four points, which carry their own $543 price tag.
"Some people are getting the message and unfortunately others aren't," said Coquitlam RCMP Const. Jamie Phillipson on Wednesday morning at the start of the enforcement campaign on Shaughnessy Street near Elgin Avenue. "We want to make sure everyone understands how incredibly dangerous it is to talk on your phone or text while you're driving."
According to ICBC data, distracted driving is a leading cause of car crash fatalities in B.C. — and one in every four collisions where there's a fatality is directly related to distracted driving.
On average, that represents 81 deaths per year, making distracted driving the second-leading cause of motor vehicle fatalities in B.C., behind speeding (94) and slightly ahead of impaired driving (78).
Phillipson said some people are under the misconception that if they're slowing down or waiting at a red light, it's OK to check their phone.
"What we're asking people to do is just keep your eyes on the road," he said. "It's still extremely dangerous to look down when you're at an intersection — you didn't see that pedestrian running for the bus or you didn't see that car pull out in front of you. Just be attentive to the road."
Use of a handheld device has been illegal since 2010. Phones must be connected to a Bluetooth or wired headset or speakerphone, and must be securely attached to the car — it cannot be in your lap or loose on the seat beside you. And if you're using a headset or headphones, drivers can only wear them in one ear.
But police and ICBC recommend avoiding the phone altogether, letting calls go to voicemail and ignoring text messages. Can't resist the temptation? Turn the phone off, they say, or store it in the trunk while driving.
At Wednesday's enforcement blitz, Tri-City Speed Watch volunteers were positioned just ahead of the officers, with signs alerting drivers to leave the phone alone.
Those who didn't get the message were spotted a short distance away and their vehicle details radioed to officers, who pulled them over.
Phillipson said none of the 29 drivers who were ticketed offered an excuse and said officers were also surprised to issue 14 tickets ($167 each) for failing to wear a seatbelt.
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