A car is impounded in Burnaby Friday morning after its driver is pulled over with two phones in her lap and no licence or insurance. Photograph By Burnaby RCMP
It didn’t take long for a targeted distracted driving enforcement to hit its mark in Burnaby Friday.
Moments after setting up on Deer Lake Parkway at 9 a.m., Burnaby RCMP’s traffic services pulled over a vehicle for a broken headlight.
The female driver had two cell phones in her lap but no licence or insurance, according to police.
She was issued three tickets totaling $1,250, and her car was impounded.
Burnaby RCMP is stepping up distracted driving enforcement throughout the month of March, and anyone caught driving distracted will face fines of $368 and four points on their licence.
During a two-hour period on Deer Lake Parkway from 9 to 11 a.m., RCMP handed out 35 tickets for distracted driving, seatbelt and insurance violations.
Distracted driving is the second leading cause of fatal collisions in B.C., according to the RCMP, with an average of 78 people dying each year.
Burnaby RCMP is also urging distracted pedestrians and cyclists to pay better attention to what’s happening around them.
As part of the RCMP’s distracted driving awareness month, Burnaby’s Crime Prevention Unit will host a free talk by paramedic Ted Swan on the dangers of driving and walking distracted.
The event takes place March 21 in the Forum Room at Fortius Sport & Health (3713 Kensington Ave.) from 6 to 8 p.m.
RSVP to crimeprevention@burnaby.ca.
