A Saanich police crackdown on use of electronic devices while driving turned up 50 violations in a three-hour period one afternoon last week.
Saanich police teamed up with the Capital Regional District Integrated Road Safety Unit from 1 to 4 p.m. Sept. 15 on McKenzie Avenue near Borden Street for the blitz. September is distracted driving and seatbelt awareness month in B.C.
Results of the exercise were released Wednesday, and also included eight seatbelt violations, 11 other violations for various offences and five notices for vehicle defects.
Penalties for distracted driving start at a $368 and four penalty points, while the fine for not wearing a seatbelt is $167.
Saanich police Const. Markus Anastasiades said the high number of cases of distracted-driving found in just three hours “is unfortunately not surprising.”
“People are still not getting the message, leaving us to conduct these joint campaigns.”
Staff Sgt. Adam Tallboy, acting officer in charge of the B.C. Highway Patrol on Vancouver Island, which includes the Integrated Road Safety Unit, said he welcomes the chance to work on traffic safety with local police departments.
Driving is a complex, multi-tasking operation that requires the undivided attention of the driver, Tallboy said, reminding road users to “please leave your phone alone, keep your eyes forward and drive safely.”
B.C. RCMP said data shows distracted driving is behind 29 per cent of vehicle-crash fatalities in the province, which translates to an annual average of 77 deaths stemming from drivers not paying attention.
Not using proper restraints like seatbelts or child seats accounts for an annual average of 52 deaths in B.C., the RCMP said.
“Ask yourself if it is worth your life or someone else’s to answer a call, check your email or send a text while you are driving,” Chief Supt. Holly Turton, officer in charge of the B.C. Highway Patrol, said in a statement.
