Police have issued more than 46,000 tickets to drivers for using a cellphone in the 20 months since the distracted-driving law came into effect, safety officials say.
The Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General said the law, introduced in February 2010, reduced the number of serious injuries and fatalities related to distracted driving by 12 per cent between Feb. 1, 2010, and July 31, 2011.
The fine for using a cellphone while driving is $167. Drivers caught texting or emailing also receive three penalty points if caught.
Despite the statistics, police say they are still seeing a lot of distracted driving.
“This law gave police another enforcement tool to help make roads safer, but two years later we are still seeing too many drivers texting, emailing and generally not paying attention behind the wheel,” said Victoria Chief Const. Jamie Graham, chair of the traffic committee of the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police. “This dangerous behaviour has to stop or we will continue to see unnecessary and tragic accidents on the roads of British Columbia.”
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