This month’s SGI Traffic Spotlight is focusing on distracted drivers, with law enforcement on the lookout for those behind the wheel who aren’t paying close enough attention while behind the wheel.
Distracted driving is one of the largest traffic concerns in the province, which is why SGI is reminding drivers to keep their phones in their pockets and give full and undivided attention to the road.
"Ignore the temptation to look at your phone when you’re driving,” said Penny McCune, chief operating officer of the Auto Fund, in a press release. “When you’ve arrived at your destination, you can doomscroll, go down a TikTok rabbit hole, or binge-watch Bridgerton to your heart’s content. But when you’re behind the wheel, driving is all you should be doing."
While phone use has become one of the most common ways officers see drivers distracted behind the wheel, there are other things drivers do that can also be considered unsafe distractions, like eating, using a GPS or playing with the radio, interacting with pets, or fixing your hair or makeup.
Police will be focusing on distracted drivers, with an additional focus on drowsy drivers, to remind people that the penalties for unsafe driving can be very steep.
For the first infraction under distracted driving legislation, drivers are looking at a $580 ticket and four demerit points. For a second offence occurring within a year, expect a $1,400 ticket and another four demerits, and a possible seven-day vehicle seizure. A third infraction within a year means a $2,100 ticket, four more demerits and another seven-day vehicle seizure.
Although the legal penalties for distracted driving are steep, SGI is also highlighting a more important consequence — the potential to hurt yourself or other people on the road.
Drivers who are distracted or drowsy and unable to stay awake have a slower reaction time, decreased awareness and impaired judgment. Driver inattention causes thousands of collisions on Saskatchewan roads every year, said SGI, with many people left injured or deceased as a result.
SGI offered some advice to help drivers avoid distractions:
- avoid the temptation of checking your phone behind the wheel, whether that means turning off notifications, powering it down, or putting it someplace where it can’t be seen;
- plan ahead and make sure you and your passengers have everything you need before hitting the road;
- select your music and set your GPS before beginning your drive;
- make sure you are rested and ready to go before you leave the driveway; and
- don’t be afraid to pull over and rest if you’re feeling tired or unfocused while driving.
To help make the roads safer this year, SGI is encouraging all drivers to “keep your head out of your apps” and avoid the consequences of distracted driving.
February’s Traffic Spotlight was focused on impaired driving, while December highlighted the driving trends seen over the holiday season.
