On the 20th of January, members of the Belleville Police Service Traffic Safety Unit took part in a special project, targeting distracted driving. A member of the unit spent 6 hours watching traffic from a Belleville Transit bus. As a result, numerous offenses were observed, including:
9 charges of distracted driving ($490 fine, 3 demerit points)
1 follow too closely ($110 fine, 4 demerit points)
1 suspended driver ($2000 fine, automatic 6 month suspension)
In addition, the officer on the bus saw more than 20 other people using their devices, but not all were able to be stopped and charged. Distracted driving represents a threat to all highway users. By putting your device away, you greatly increase the chances of arriving at your destination safely. The Traffic Safety Unit will continue using different and innovative ways to observe for offenses. The consequences of an injury collision can change lives forever.
