Distracted driving penalties are set to increase in Saskatchewan.(File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Drivers behaving badly

Caught in the act: distracted drivers weigh in on promise of steeper fines

Oct 30, 2019 | 8:15 AM

The provincial government has made a commitment to increase the penalties for distracted driving, but for those people who have been caught with only one hand on the wheel, the words may be going in one window and out the other. paNOW spoke to a number of people who have already had more than an earful for breaking the rules.

Kendra, 34, has one ticket and confessed to paNOW she was using google maps in a town she didn’t know. She explained the newer vehicles are not always the most driver friendly.

“You have to be parked to type in an address so a lot of times it’s just easier to type it in your phone,” she said.

The current penalty in Saskatchewan for a distracted driving ticket is $280 plus four demerit points along with vehicle impoundments for repeat offenders. Kendra was asked if she would change her habits, knowing the fines may be going up. She said no and added she did not think others would pay attention either.

“When your phone dings you look, and when you need it, you need it,” she argued. “Right now it’s at that point.”

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Ray, 36, has two tickets for distracted driving, and both were cell phone related. He told paNOW he has learned his lesson.

“My points are so high, every time I get dinged it’s $1,000,” he said.

Mika, 24, confessed she was responsible for rear-ending a car, which in turn rear-ended the car in front. In addition to the big dent in her bank account, Mika was forced to learn her lesson in a tougher way.

“Karma got me back a year later and someone rear-ended me and messed up my hip for what feels like forever,” she said.

Sheena, 45, has experienced things from both ends. In addition to receiving a ticket for distracted driving, she was also the victim of an accident, as a result of someone else who was on their phone.

“She totalled her car and has ruined my shoulder forever. Fines should be as high as they can with tons of demerit points. It made me stop completely from texting and driving,” she said.

The provincial government made the promise to hike fines, during the speech from the throne last week. According to SGI, there were 901 tickets issued last month by police related to distracted driving, and 773 of those were for people using phones while driving.The remainder had to do with driving without due care and attention.

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell