RCMP West District ticket more than 100 for distracted driving

More than 100 drivers have been issued tickets for distracted driving by West District RCMPin New Brunswick so far this year.

The RCMP warns it will be looking to add to that total in November as many motorists aren't complying with the distracted driving legislation that was adopted by New Brunswick in 2011.

"The law is clear," said Const. Hans Ouellette of West District RCMP, which stretches from the Madawaska region in the north to Charlotte County in the south and includes the capital region around Fredericton, in a news release.

"Distracted driving is defined as anything that takes a driver's attention away from the road," said Ouellette. "Any driver who is holding or operating a device like a smart phone, cell phone, MP3 player or GPSwhile driving is breaking the law."

The fine for distracted driving in New Brunswick is $172.50.

If you take your eyes off the road to answer a text message, it could be the last message you ever read.- RCMPConst. Hans Ouellette

An RCMPnew release states a driver's chances of being involved in a crash is 23 times greater if they are texting, and four times more likely if they are talking on a phone, whether they are using a hands-free option or not. Research shows 80 per cent of collisions occur about three seconds after a driver has been distracted, said the RCMP.

"If you take your eyes off the road to answer a text message, it could be the last message you ever read," said Ouellette. "And you're endangering the lives of others."

RCMP in West District say they will be setting up checkstops and conducting spot checks for distracted drivingin the capital region for the remainder of November.