By Shaun Penner

Distracted Driving

Grande Prairie RCMP hoping to reduce distracted driving through recent operations

Jan 21, 2020 | 11:31 AM

Grande Prairie RCMP are reminding people to put their cell phone away and buckle up when behind the wheel, following a recent targeting of distracted driving and occupant restraints.

In a release, RCMP say the Grande Prairie Municipal Traffic Unit ran an operation on Friday, January 17 in the Swan City, which resulted in 18 charges being laid against motorists.

That number is down from similar operations run on September 13, October 1 and November 6 of 2019, which saw over 20 charges being laid against distracted and unsafe drivers each time.

RCMP say they are hopeful that means people are getting the message.

“During the operation, the majority of motorists observed were exhibiting safe driving behaviours and were driving according to the conditions,” said Cst. Joel Durling, in the release.

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Police say the biggest contributor to injury and fatalities in collisions continues to be speeding, aggressive driving, distracted driving and occupants not wearing a seatbelt.

The penalty for those caught distracted driving is $287, plus three demerit points against your driver’s license. 15 accumulated demerit points (eight for a novice or GDL license0 within a two-year period does equate to a license suspension.

RCMP say that between when distracted driving legislation was introduced on September 1, 2011 and March of 2018, 97 per cent of distracted driving convictions were for using a cell phone while driving.