Saskatchewan traffic safety campaign nabs record number of distracted drivers

Saskatchewan Government Insurance says a traffic safety campaign last month nabbed a record number of distracted drivers.

The Crown-owned insurance company says police ticketed 771 drivers for traffic offences in March — including 583 for using a cellphone.

That's the highest number of tickets issued in a month for distracted driving in Saskatchewan.

SGI says police used a number of tactics to spot offenders, including riding on buses, using plainclothes officers on sidewalks and patrolling in unmarked SUVs.

The fine for distracted driving is $280 and four demerit points in the insurer's safe-driver program, which helps determine insurance rates.

A second offence in a year draws a one-week vehicle impoundment.

SGI says motorists just aren't getting the message that they need to put their phones away, even though distracted driving was the leading cause of all traffic collisions in Saskatchewan in 2016. It was a factor in almost 8,300 collisions that contributed to 42 deaths and 1,200 injuries.