(By Emma Marion)
RCMP handed out seven distracted driving tickets to motorists along 8th Street within one hour.
A police officer dressed in regular clothing issued the tickets a week ago, on Nov. 23. He was holding a sign that read “police ahead,” which included graphics of cellphones crossed out. The sign and undercover cop were not enough for drivers to notice and put their phones down.
The operation was a part of a planned attempt to crackdown on distracted driving.
“Even with penalties and fines totaling more than $500, we’re still only seeing subtle changes in behavior — not at all what you would expect with everything we know about the dangers of distracted driving,” said Corporal Wayne Chung of the Kamloops RCMP Municipal Traffic unit.
According to an ICBC report, the penalty for one distracted driving ticket is a $368 fine, plus four penalty points, totaling the financial cost to more than $500. ICBC also advises that more than a quarter of all B.C. car crash fatalities are caused by distracted driving.
Using cellphones while driving has been banned in B.C. since 2010, and it is in effect even when the car is at a red light or in a drive-thru.
Police are encouraging drivers to put their phones down, and pay attention to the surroundings. As weather and road conditions change, and the danger of accidents increase, police say they will be on the lookout for illegal or dangerous activity, such as distracted driving.