The RCMP are cracking down on distracted driving this month, and are warning Prince George about their newest way of finding drivers on phones.
Starting today, spotters will be placed on city buses around the city who are looking for distracted drivers while an unmarked car follows closely behind to write the ticket.
“Distracted driving is not only against the law, but incredibly dangerous,” Corporal Jenn Cooper told My PG Now.
She said this is the first time they have used bus spotters, adding the RCMP tries to shake up their strategies so people don’t try and work around them.
“We see lots of drivers around Prince George on their cell phones,” she said. “Most frequently we see them holding their cell phone on speakerphone to have a conversation, that is also against the motor vehicle act.”
Distracted driving can be more than just phone use, some examples given were eating, doing hair or makeup, and reading behind the wheel – anything that takes your attention off the road.
Tracey Hoffman, ICBC’s new Road Safety and Community Coordinator, said the fine for distracted driving is $368, and four penalty points on your license.
She said 16 people die in northern BC every year due to a distracted driving related crash.
The spotters on the buses are all citizens on patrol volunteers.