Each month in 2014, SGI is spotlighting a different aspect of driving safety. This month, they’re getting the word out about distracted driving.
Distracted driving encompasses anything, not just cell phone use. Whether you’re playing with the radio or yelling at your kids, anything that distracts the driver can cause a ticket-- $280 and four demerits off your license.
“Distracted driving continues to be one of the top contributing factors to collisions in Saskatchewan,” said Marie Schultz, a communications consultant with SGI.
Being distracted by your cell phone is a whole other ticket that carries the same consequences. It was implemented in 2010.
“It was implemented because it’s such a big thing right now,” Schultz said.
In 2013, there were over 5,700 collisions caused by distracted driving.
“And we don’t need that many,” Schultz said.
From those collisions, there were 32 deaths and nearly 2,000 injuries. In the last six months of 2014, 18 drivers had their vehicle seized for distracted driving.
“It’s so easy for a driver to be distracted by one thing or another – a cellphone, conversation, food, reading a map or GPS – you need to stay 100 per cent focused, 100 per cent of the time,” said Sgt. Cliff Froehlich of the Moose Jaw Police Service. “Distraction can result in something as little as a fender bender, or as major as a fatality. All because a driver’s attention was somewhere else.”
In the past year, legislation has become tougher on distracted drivers. Experienced drivers (those not in the graduated licensing program) can use hands-free devices, while those in the graduated licensing program can’t. However, experienced drivers are still advised by SGI to pull over to make phone calls. In addition, a vehicle will be seized for seven days on the second or subsequent offense of using a cell phone or general distracted driving.
