VPD says more than 2,100 distracted driving tickets were issued in March

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Vancouver police officers who were on the lookout for distracted drivers were kept very busy last month.

The VPD says more than 2,100 violation tickets were issued in March, during a province-wide campaign targeting drivers who aren’t leaving their phones alone while behind the wheel.

That works out to an average of more than 67 per day.

Among those tickets include two given to one person who was twice caught using their phone while driving — in just six minutes in Downtown Vancouver. The tickets were issued just one block away from each other.

The fines start at $368, with the costs rising with subsequent tickets.

“It only takes a second for a sudden change in traffic, or for someone to walk in front of your vehicle, often leaving you with a completely preventable collision,” said VPD Cst. Jason Doucette.

He says the number of tickets issued in March proves distracted driving is a serious problem in Vancouver.

“We would really like to get to point where it becomes a challenge for our officers to find distracted drivers. Unfortunately, even after all of the public awareness motorists receive, there has been very little need for us to get creative.”