Ever had the urge to check your cellphone notifications while waiting in a drive-thru lane?
That could be one expensive cup of TimmyB次元官网网址檚.
It is illegal to use your phone at a drive-thru, since the Motor Vehicle Act considers parking lots and drive-thrus as part of the roadway and still subject to enforcement. According to the B.C. Highway Patrol, it could cost you a distracted driving fine of $368.
Black Press Media contacted the highway patrol after a reader in Parksville reported spotting a police officer with a telephoto lens watching drivers in a lineup. Sgt. Robert Haney said that no violation tickets were handed out, just a warning. But technically speaking the drivers got lucky.
B次元官网网址淚f the wheels are rotating, it is an offence,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚f your wheels are not rotating and youB次元官网网址檙e in park, you can use your cellphone all day long. But as soon as your wheels rotate, you canB次元官网网址檛 even have it in your hand. Because then it becomes a problem.B次元官网网址�
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March is designated as Distracted Driving Awareness Month and police across the province are ramping up patrols to check for inattentive and distracted drivers.
Haney said approximately 40 tickets have already been issued since the beginning of the month to distracted drivers in the Parksville Qualicum Beach area. Last year, from January to December, 118 tickets were issued for the use of cellphones while driving.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 rampant out here,B次元官网网址� said Haney, noting that one of his officers issued 12 tickets in a single day alone.
B次元官网网址淧eople see us in our marked police vehicles B次元官网网址� and whatB次元官网网址檚 worse than using it in their hand, they put it in their lap and look down. Then theyB次元官网网址檙e not even looking at the road. They figure if we see them driving with it in their hands, theyB次元官网网址檙e going to get charged,B次元官网网址� he said.
To avoid distractions while driving, ask your passengers to make or receive calls and texts for you.
B次元官网网址� RoadSafetyBC (@RoadSafetyBC)
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a divided attention test when youB次元官网网址檙e driving a motor vehicle because your brain is doing numerous things at the same time.B次元官网网址�
As outlined by the Motor Vehicle Act, the fine amount for a distracted driving offence is $368, along with four penalty points.
ICBC issued a press release on Feb. 25 that stated, on average, 10 people are killed every year in distracted driving-related crashes on Vancouver Island. This claim was based on police data gathered between 2015 and 2019.
According to ICBC statistics gathered from 2019, the most recent data available, 28 per cent of crashes caused by distracted driving were fatal, second only to speeding at 30 per cent, and greater than impaired driving by seven per cent.
In ICBCB次元官网网址檚 Graduated Licensing Program, class 5 or 7 (L and N) drivers cannot use any personal electronic devices while operating a vehicle, even with a hands-free system.
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