SGI has a easy message to maintain folks secure on Saskatchewan roads and highways: “don’t drive distracted.”
Saskatchewan Authorities Insurance coverage (SGI) says a median of 877 persons are injured every year in collisions involving distracted driving.
That represents one out of each 5 accidents — greater than are injured in impaired driving and rushing collisions mixed, in keeping with SGI.
Distracted driving additionally leads to a median of 26 deaths every year.
“There’s no cellphone name, there’s no textual content, there’s no Instagram story or message on Snap … that’s value doubtlessly injuring or killing any individual,” mentioned SGI spokesperson Tyler McMurchy.
“It doesn’t matter when you’re at a pink mild, (if) you’re stopped for a practice. Should you’re in a driving lane, you’re in care and management of that automobile, it’s good to hold that cellphone out of your hand.”
Saskatoon police Employees Sgt. Patrick Barbar mentioned officers within the metropolis challenge slightly below 3,000 tickets yearly for distracted driving.
He mentioned in a single occasion, a driver missed seeing a “very apparent police automobile,” the power’s impaired cellular testing van, which has a big image of the facet of a police officer.
“This van was capable of pull up subsequent to a driver who was driving whereas texting on the site visitors mild,” Barbar mentioned.
“And it’s not till the siren was activated that that driver was conscious that there was a police automobile there.”
Police forces throughout the province are specializing in distracted driving for SGI’s October site visitors security highlight.
Holding, utilizing, manipulating or viewing a handheld cellphone whereas behind the wheel is distracted driving below Saskatchewan legal guidelines.
Nonetheless, it isn’t a penalty for knowledgeable drivers to make use of the hands-free features on mounted units by voice instructions or one-touch.
SGI mentioned distracted driving isn’t restricted to cellphones — it additionally contains lighting cigarettes, consuming, grooming and rummaging round in gloveboxes or purses.
“Simply keep off your cellphone and hold that cellphone out of your hand and you’ll keep away from what could be very possible distracted driving,” McMurchy mentioned.
“You ought to be targeted on the highway and the opposite folks on it since you may harm your self, you would harm others very simply.
“It simply takes a few seconds of inattention to trigger a really extreme accident.”
Offenders caught driving whereas distracted, or driving with out due care and a spotlight face a advantageous of $580 together with 4 demerit factors.
Repeat offenders face increased fines. A second offence inside a yr leads to a $1,400 ticket and it goes as much as $2,100 for a 3rd offence. Autos are seized for seven days.
In August, SGI mentioned there have been 799 distracted driving offences within the province, 683 of which had been for utilizing a cellphone whereas driving.
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