An unwelcome record was broken during March’s Traffic Safety Spotlight. Saskatchewan police reported 711 distracted driving offences.

"That includes 583 cellphone tickets," explained Tyler McMurchy, Spokesperson for SGI. "That is the highest number we've ever seen in a single month in the history of these traffic safety spotlights and we've been doing them for close to four years now."

"The previous record was set in Novermber of 2017, with 636 so it's a significant jump from that."

Even though a ticket for using a cell phone costs drivers $280 and 4 demerits, with a one-week vehicle impoundiment for the second ticket earned in the same year, it seems that the risks of distracted driving still aren’t getting through to the public.

"There are a lot of people who are making the very unwise decision to use their cellphone while they're operating a motor vehicle and police are ridiculously good at catching them", said McMurchy. 

In 2016 a distracted driver behind the wheel was a leading factor in 8,300 collisions, causing 42 deaths and 1200 injuries in our province.

SGI suggests that you keep your phone somewhere you won’t be tempted – a purse, a glove box, or, if you’re especially prone to the distraction, even the trunk of your vehicle. SGI urges that you #JustDrive when you’re behind the wheel.

Police focus for April is speeding and aggressive driving, with 4,267 tickets being issued for such offences in March. Fines for speeding are set to increase on May 1 by $30 on the base fine, with the cost set to double for the number of km/h driven in excess of the posted limited.