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There’s also a blanket ban on using, holding, viewing or manipulating a hand-held cellphone while driving.

The government increased impaired driving penalties in September of last year, notably by toughening up vehicle seizures for drivers with passengers under age 16 and imposing licence suspensions for drug-impaired driving.

Impaired drivers can face immediate roadside suspension, vehicle impoundment, mandatory education programs, SGI fines that can run up to $2,225 for convictions and up to 20 demerit points.

Sandra LaRose, who lost her daughter to distracted driving, was in the legislative chamber to hear the commitment to action. Kailynn Bursic-Panchuk died after a collision with a train near Weyburn in August 2018, and LaRose was told she was seen looking at a cell phone at the time.

She expressed hope that families like hers will be consulted as the government pins down the new rules.

“I’m hoping that, by next year, there’s not going to be another Kailynn,” she said.

Regina Police Service constable Mike “Hawkeye” Seel was at the legislature to talk about how often he sees repeat offenders on the streets of Regina. He’s given out more than 1,000 tickets to those using cell phone while driving this year alone.

“People unfortunately aren’t getting the message,” he said. “So the next thing is going to be harsher penalties.”

The risks are high. Seel said distracted driving is now the number-one cause of accidents that lead to injury in the province.

But he said even the current fine is “hefty,” which raises questions about whether hitting drivers harder will work. Education and awareness are just as important. That’s a message LaRose is trying to get across.

“The world is such a fast-paced lifestyle for everybody that nobody has the time to slow down, and everybody has to make that call or answer that text or even the flicker of a notification on your phone,” she said. “Put it out of sight, out of mind…

“There’s no undo button when you’re dead.”