By Roger White

SGI and police efforts to target distracted driving this month

Mar 3, 2017 | 10:32 AM

Drivers with a tendency to glance at their phone while on the road should consider knocking the habit as Mounties plan to target offenders this month.

Police across the province will be watching for drivers using their cellphones while behind the wheel, including those making calls, sending texts and sharing on social media.

“People need to realize that when you get behind the wheel, you are responsible for thousands of pounds of glass and steel,” Tyler McMurchy, Media Relations Manager with SGI, said. “Then you figure high speeds into the equation and the result could be disastrous. You really need to ask yourself is that text really worth it.”

Distracted driving remains the top contributing factor of all collisions in Saskatchewan and a top contributing factor in fatal collisions as well.  In 2015, the Battleford area including Meota, Wilkie, Hafford and Cut Knife had 125 distracted driving collisions resulting in 17 injuries while in the Meadow Lake area which encompasses Loon Lake, Makwa Sahgaiehcan and Rapid Lake, there were 35 distracted collisions resulting in 14 injuries and one death in 2015.

“People have to remember that as of Jan. 1, laws changed in this province,” McMurchy added. “It is now illegal to look at, hold or manipulated a mobile device while you are driving and it doesn’t matter if you are a new [or] seasoned driver. New drivers can’t use cellphones at all and as far as experienced drivers are concerned they can use hand-free cellphones but only if they are activated by voice or one touch commands and they have to be mounted on your dashboard or your visor.”

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McMurchy also pointed out that there are precautions drivers can take to avoid becoming distracted behind the wheel.

“We all understand it can be tempting when you hear that phone go off and you got a text. You really do need to remove yourself from the temptation and it all boils down to advanced planning,” he said.

He said silencing your phone and putting it out of your reach before you get behind the wheel is one way to curb the appeal of answering your phone. You can also designate a passenger to navigate and reply to texts and calls as you drive.

SGI and law enforcement also remind area drivers that it’s not only cell phone use that cause distractions. Eating while behind the wheel, putting on makeup, playing loud music and interacting with friends or pets while driving can also take your attention off the road.

Email: roger.white@jpbg.com

Twitter: @BattlefordNow