It's not like they were hard to spot.
Langley RCMP traffic enforcement officers were standing in plain sight, wearing bright yellow high-visibility vests on 200 Street near 64 Avenue on Tuesday, March 18.
And yet, they still caught several distracted drivers, an offence that comes with a $368 fine and four driver penalty points.
March is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, with ICBC and police forces working together to raise awareness and enforce distracted driving laws.
“Distracted driving, along with speeding and impaired driving, is consistently one of the top three contributors to fatal crashes in BC,” said Cpl. Michael McLaughlin of the BC Highway Patrol.
“We often hear drivers ask for a warning. Distracted driving is so risky that your warning will be a violation ticket. The real consequences would be to get hurt or worse.”
Texting while driving, fiddling with the radio, or even having a snack while behind the wheel are all examples of distracted driving, according to a post by the peoples law school.
Stats for B.C. show distracted driving has become at least as deadly as driving while impaired.
“Distracted driving is a serious problem in our province, contributing to an average of 79 deaths each year,” said Leanne Cassap, ICBC road safety and community coordinator for Langley.
“Please give the road your full attention and set yourself up for zero distractions. Keep your phone out of sight, program your GPS before driving and mute notifications. Together, we can create safer roads for everyone.”
In March, police are also looking for people driving without seatbelts.
An average of 53 people are dying every year in BC because they were not wearing seat belts properly, Cpl. McLaughlin noted.
"“The evidence is clear: If you do not wear your seatbelt, a totally survivable collision will often become fatal,” McLaughlin commented, “and while securing your child with a car seat requires a little planning, your child’s life is worth it.”
