The Prince George RCMP’s Distracted Driving Awareness campaign continued last week with a static checkpoint the intersection of McGill Crescent and Domano Boulevard.
On March 4, members from the Prince George Traffic Services Unit, the Citizens on Patrol volunteers and the Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement team conducted “Cell Watch” at the College Heights intersection for four hours.
During the stint, the Traffic Services Unit handed out 11 electronic device violation tickets and one ticket for failing to display an N.
Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement issued nine distracted driving violation tickets, three defective vehicle violation tickets, one speeding ticket, one notice and order to immediately remove the vehicle from the road until repairs are made and it passes an inspection, and one notice and order to have the noted vehicle defects corrected and to pass an inspection within 30 days.
“All three services were surprised when, within a 90-minute period, they caught the same driver twice for using their cell phone while driving,” states Cst. Jennifer Cooper of the Prince George RCMP.
“Members stopped the driver for using their cell phone while driving and for not displaying their ‘N’ symbol. The driver received a violation ticket for the two infractions and left the area. An hour and a half later, members stopped the same driver a second time for using their cell phone while driving and not displaying their ‘N’ symbol. The combined total for the violation tickets issued to this driver is over $800.”
Meanwhile, the Citizens on Patrol (COP) volunteers conducted several Cell Watch events throughout the week to supplement the campaign.
The COPs observed 3263 vehicles throughout the week and noted that more than 50 motorists were using an electronic device while driving.
Other Motor Vehicle Act infractions they observed included not wearing a seatbelt and drivers’ controls obstructed by animals (pets).
Distracted driving and driver inattention account for 78 deaths on the roadways per year, according to ICBC.
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