Last month, SGI and law enforcement asked the drivers of Saskatchewan to keep their heads out of their apps and their eyes on the road. Did drivers get the message?
Not all of them, SGI reports.
According to statistics compiled , 592 drivers were too distracted by the latest notification on their device, because law enforcement issued that many tickets for holding or using cell phones while driving.
An additional 93 tickets were issued for driving without due care and attention.
Failing to ignore the allure of the phone while driving can result in a $580 ticket (and four demerit points), with escalating fines and weeklong vehicle impoundments for repeat offences. Distracted drivers could also result in a collision, causing injury and property damage.
Preliminary statistics from 2020 indicate driver distraction or inattention contributed to more than 3,000 collisions last year, resulting in approximately 600 injuries and 22 deaths.
“So turn off notifications, put your phone where you won’t be tempted by it, get ready and set your music and GPS before hitting the road, and make sure you’re well-rested before getting behind the wheel (or stop and rest if you are feeling tired),” a press release from SGI states.
Police also reported the following results from other traffic safety categories last month:
• 358 impaired driving offences, including 244 Criminal Code charges;
• 576 tickets for improper seatbelt or child restraint use; and
• 6,846 tickets for speeding/aggressive driving.
SGI and law enforcement continue to encourage drivers to #SlowDown with the April focus on speeding, pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and ATVs. Find SGI on Facebook, Twitter and Instagramfor more information.
