Eating cereal, reading newspapers, watching TV, shaving and putting on makeup — these are some of the activities drivers in Richmond have been caught doing on the road over the years.
As a part of ICBC and Richmond RCMP’s month-long education and enforcement campaign to curb distracted driving, police set up shop with transit police, city workers and volunteers at Sea Island Way and Garden City Road between 1 to 3 p.m. on Thursday to catch distracted drivers.
Within one hour of the operation, Richmond News reporters observed at least five vehicles being pulled over by RCMP officers, who also spotted one driver watching TV and not wearing a seatbelt, while another drove past with heavily tinted windows.
“It’s been a decent month here for us. It’s kind of disappointing in some way as well because the cellphone law has been around for so long, and we’re still getting this many people,” said Cpl. Peter Somerville, spokesperson for the Richmond RCMP Road Safety Unit.
A total of 133 tickets were issued this month to drivers using electronic devices while driving.
Somerville explained that tactics used usually include stationary call-in operations and patrolling in motorcycles.
“Most drivers out there don’t pay any attention to a motorcycle. I pulled literally right beside a gentleman (on Wednesday), just coming to this operation. He’s on his phone, he looks at me, and then it clicked that I was a police officer.”
Officers have also posed as homeless individuals and window washers, which allows them to get up close to vehicles by the curb.
“We’ve had people that would just be (posing as regular people) and holding up a sign, actually, that would say, ‘I’m a cop. We’re doing a cellphone operation,’” said Somerville.
“And we would have people that would try and give them money or take a picture of them. And it’s like, it says right here, I’m police. They still do it because it just doesn’t click yet.”
The number of drivers caught using electronic devices has remained “fairly steady” over the years, Somerville told the News, though people have been trying to be more discreet with their usage.
“That’s why we have to change the way we work.”
For this year’s campaign, Richmond RCMP officers received training from city workers to operate bucket trucks to get a higher vantage point.
“It just gives the general public something more to think about, a different way that we are going to be operating,” said Somerville, who added that he hopes the variety of tactics will make drivers “think twice” before speeding past inconspicuous roadside staples such as bucket trucks.
During the bucket truck’s first run on Wednesday, 18 tickets were issued for using electronic devices along with five others for various offences such as not having driver’s licenses and insurance. A total of around $10,500 in fines were issued during the two-hour operation. Thursday’s operation saw 19 tickets issued for using electronic devices and six for other offences.
“More than anything, we’re not trying to fool people,” said Somerville, adding that the various tactics are to adapt to the discreet ways people may try to use their electronic devices.
Police and ICBC also held an outreach program at Thomas Kidd and Cook elementary earlier this week, where officers and volunteers issued more than 100 cards designed by local students to drivers. The program aims to remind drivers to “think about the kids and focus on the road when driving,” said Harvey Kooner, ICBC spokesperson.
Distracted driving a leading contributor in crash fatalities
According to RCMP statistics, distracted driving has been a “leading contributing factor” in B.C. car crash fatalities since 2020, resulting in an average of 77 deaths each year. Between 2017 and 2021, distracted driving was responsible for 29 per cent of all fatal crash and contributed to almost 40 per cent of police-reported injuries in the province.
More than 140,000 tickets have been issued since 2018 across the province to drivers using electronic devices.
Drivers are 3.6 times more likely to crash when using a smartphone, GPS or any electronic device while driving, according to ICBC. Effects of distraction can also be cumulative, and drivers should avoid secondary, non-driving tasks where they may need to take their eyes off the road.
Distracted driving offences in B.C. can fall into three main types: using electronic devices, driving without consideration (such as tilting one’s head up to drink the last sip of coffee while driving) and driving without due care (which could be a combination of various actions such as drinking coffee and speeding).
Penalties for using electronic devices while driving will result in a $368 fine and a four-point deduction; driving without consideration carries a $196 fine and six-point deduction; and driving without due care comes with a $368 fine and a six-point deduction.
Drivers with a learner’s or novice licence are also prohibited from using any electronic devices, even if they’re hands-free, while driving except when they’re making an emergency call to 911.
“Anything that takes your attention away from driving is a distraction,” said Kooner.
“When you’re distracted, you risk not only your own safety — but also the safety of your passengers and of others on the road. We urge drivers to take this issue seriously and make the commitment to stay focused on the road while behind the wheel.”
