Richmond RCMP and ICBC are back with another distracted driving campaign for fall.
Over the years, Richmond drivers have been caught eating cereal, putting on makeup and reading newspapers.
In fact, a driver was so engrossed with World Cup highlights last December he didn't even notice a police officer taking a photo, said Cpl. Adriana O'Malley, Richmond RCMP spokesperson.
"Unfortunately, there still are people out there who continue to put other road users at risk by refusing to leave their phone alone," she said.
According to Richmond RCMP, distracted driving contributes to more than 6,500 police-reported injuries and 77 deaths in B.C. per year and is a factor in almost 40 per cent of police-reported car crash injuries.
During Richmond RCMP and ICBC's last campaign in spring, police issued more than $10,000 in fines to drivers using electronic devices within two hours.
Richmond RCMP are asking drivers to get familiar with laws for distracted driving, including not using cellphones at red lights and keeping their hands free by using devices such as a Bluetooth, wired headset or speakerphone.
The cost of failing to keep to the rules is a fine of $368 and four driver penalty points.
