Distracted driving has taken over from impaired driving as the leading cause of fatalities on Saskatchewan highways with 57 reported deaths in RCMP jurisdictions up till Dec. 17, 2012, but drinking and driving is still regarded as the main problem.
“We would still consider impaired driving as the number one single contributing factor to fatal collisions only because it is one single factor,” said Rebecca Schulz, media relations manager at SGI. “When we talk about distracted driving we are talking about a number of different things and that includes cell phone use, texting while driving, eating, grooming, music and also just driver inattention.”
RCMP across the province recorded 162 deaths on Saskatchewan highways in 2012, up from the previous record of 151 fatalities in 2001. Distracted driving led the way as the biggest cause of fatal collisions, with alcohol-related deaths coming in second at 54 cases and speeding rounding out the top three with 37 instances.
“We are seeing an increase in the distracted driving count and that’s a concern for us,” said RCMP spokesman Sgt. Paul Dawson. “There has been stepped up enforcement and we’ve been out and we’re trying to bring attention to the issue as well.”
Dawson said cellphone use while driving is against the law in this province and there will be a fine of $280 handed out if caught by police while operating one, but with other factors related to distracted driving it is up to the discretion of the officer whether to issue a fine or not.
“It is any behaviour that takes away from the task at hand of driving such as reading, watching movies and putting on makeup,” he said.
To read more please see the Jan. 14 print edition of The Davidson Leader.