Prince George RCMP’s Municipal Traffic Service Unit ramped up distracted driving enforcement throughout the city in March.
The RCMP also worked with its partner agencies including B.C. Highway Patrol, Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement, ICBC and RCMP volunteers to target distracted drivers.
The agencies issued 153 tickets during the month-long campaign for a variety of driving infractions, including 104 tickets for using an electronic device while driving.
“Distracted driving is still a leading cause of crashes in B.C., accounting for more than one quarter of all car crash fatalities,” states Cpl. Jennifer Cooper, media spokesperson for the Prince George RCMP.
RCMP said the kickoff event held on March 3 at the intersection of Highways 16 and 97, was a big success.
Police used an eye in the sky approach where enforcement officers were able to spot distracted drivers across the large intersection and in all directions.
Partner agencies also met with Citizens on Patrol volunteers a number of times throughout March for targeted enforcement of distracted driving behaviours, as well as a variety of other observed infractions.
Here are the totals from all agencies for the month-long campaign:
- Use electronic device while driving x104
- Fail to wear seatbelt x20
- Excess front window tint x2
- No driver’s license x1
- Fail to yield to pedestrian x1
- Fail to produce driver’s license x1
- Prohibited driver x1
- Serve prohibition notice x1
- Impaired operation of a motor vehicle by drugs x1
- Notice and order to repair noted defects x21
