According to the latest data from Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI), last month set a record for the number of distracted driving tickets issued.
Operation Bus Cop, along with unmarked SUVs, plainclothes officers on sidewalks and also viewing drivers from elevated vantage points, resulted in a record total of 711 distracted driving offences—the highest number ever for a single month “in the history of Traffic Safety Spotlights”.
Operation Bus Cop – photo by Regina Police Service
SGI says all of the methods worked “ridiculously well”, as out of those distracted drivers, 583 cellphone-related tickets were issued. All distracted driving tickets come with a $280 fine and four demerits and the possibility of a week-long vehicle impoundment for a second ticket in a year. But according to SGI, “these record numbers show that some people just aren’t getting the message.”
Data from SGI shows distracted driving is the leading cause of all traffic collisions, with nearly 8,300 recorded in 2016, resulting in 42 deaths and over 1,200 injuries.
For the month of April, police will continue their crack down speeding and aggressive driving. As of May 1, speeding fines are set to increase by $30 and the excess speeding charges will double.
