Provincial Campaign Hits Mark Locally
By Nelson Daily Staff
On the same day the BC Government, ICBC and police introduced new measures to combat distracted driving, West Kootenay Traffic and Integrated Road Safety Unit officers issued numerous tickets to drivers still not getting the message.
Friday (March 2) between Nelson, Castlegar and Trail, police officers with Traffic Services and Nelson City Police wrote 41 distracted driving and eight seatbelt violation tickets.
During the same operation police also wrote 36 violation tickets for other offences and issued 15 Notice & Orders.
“Distracted driving, which includes the use of cell phones, remains one of the top three contributing factors to crashes in our area and in the Province,” RCMP said.
“It is important that drivers understand the definition of “use” in the Motor Vehicle Act includes holding a device in a position in which it may be used such as balanced on a lap or in hand.”
Police also said changing a song on a phone or IPod is still using the device.
“In addition, one of the worst times a driver can use their cell phone is while stopped in traffic,” police said.
“A driver’s instinct is to start moving as soon as traffic starts moving again, but the driver has missed all that is going on around with other vehicles and pedestrians.”
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