Airdrie, Alberta – The Alberta RCMP are always on the lookout for distracted drivers, working hard to reduce fatalities and serious injury collisions caused by distracted driving. Today, in Provincial Traffic Court in Airdrie, Alta., a 40-year-old male from Alberta, was sentenced for his 13th distracted driving conviction. For this 13th conviction, he received a $2,000 fine and a $300 victim surcharge. The individual also received three demerit points for the conviction.
Following a large public education campaign, distracted driving became illegal in Alberta on Sept. 1, 2011. That same day, this individual was issued a distracted driving ticket. In the 11 years that followed, he has now been convicted a total of 13 times for distracted driving here in the province, with fines totaling $7,665.00.
Research has shown driver distraction is the primary cause of over 20% of all crashes, and that distracted drivers are three times more likely to be involved in a collision than attentive drivers.
Alberta’s distracted driving law applies to all vehicles as defined by the Traffic Safety Act and all roads in Alberta. It restricts drivers from doing any of the following, even while stopped in traffic or at red lights:
Using hand-held mobile devices
Texting or emailing
Using electronic devices such as laptop computers, video games, cameras, video entertainment displays, and portable audio players
Entering information on GPS units
Reading printed materials
Writing, printing, or sketching
Personal grooming, such as brushing and flossing teeth, putting on makeup, curling hair, clipping nails, or shaving
Sadly, motor vehicle collisions caused by distracted driving are happening every day in Alberta. Please, leave the phone alone.
Alberta RCMP
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