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North Vancouver, West Vancouver police 'survey' intersection for distracted drivers

Enforcement blitz at Capilano and Marine shows drivers still aren't getting the message.

Survey says…there are still too many drivers who are distracted by everything from text messages to lunch when they are behind the wheel.

That’s the word from local police who finished up a month of distracted driving enforcement with a stealth blitz at the corner of North Vancouver’s Capilano Road and Marine Drive during rush hour on Sept. 28.

Police officers disguised as surveyors watched for drivers whose attention was somewhere other than the task at hand.

Most of those nabbed were on their cellphones.

“They could have been playing Candy Crush or on Facebook or looking at a video,” said Cpl. Jag Johal of the West Vancouver Police Department, who teamed up with North Vancouver RCMP for the blitz.

Earlier in the day, North Vancouver RCMP nabbed a new driver on his cellphone a block from the motor vehicle office. Apparently, the man was so excited he passed his road test that he phoned his wife, said Cpl. Richard De Jong, spokesman for the RCMP.

Another North Vancouver driver was pulled over near Capilano Mall during the month-long enforcement campaign, playing Pokémon Go on his phone.

You name it, say police, and someone’s probably attempted it while driving. “That’s eating cereal, shaving, having a dog in your lap,” said De Jong.

Mark Milner, road safety manager for ICBC, said earlier in the week, “I witnessed someone eating a sandwich as big as his head. He was steering with his elbows.”

“I’ve heard of people changing their clothes while driving,” he added. “It’s an unusual decision, definitely.”

Using an electronic device while driving remains one of the biggest causes of distracted driving, say police.

Numbers are not declining, said De Jong. “We continue to see the same offences over and over again.”

“A lot of people think they should be able to (use their phones) at stop signs or when traffic is jammed up on the highway,” he added. “If your vehicle is in motion, your phone shouldn’t be.”

distracted driving survey2
Source: Kevin Hill photo, North Shore News

Acting Sgt. Randy Wong of the North Vancouver RCMP’s traffic services said part of the problem is “the technology was here before the laws came in,” and many people appear to be addicted to their devices.

“They can’t put it down,” he said. “They’re on it all the time.”

Many people also mistakenly believe that it’s only if they are talking on their phone or sending a text message that they are “using” their phones.

But that’s not the case, say officers.

“If you look at the screen and it activates in your cup holder, that’s use,” said Wong. “It takes your eyes away from the road.”

Distracted driving now accounts for three times as many injury-causing accidents as impaired driving, according to police and ICBC.

 “It’s a very high risk to pedestrians and cyclists,” said Milner.

“Those 30 seconds you’ve got your head down, the world’s going by you.”

The crush of cars trying to get on to the two North Shore bridges at afternoon rush hour is prime time for folks to be tempted into sneaking in a call, say police.

“Everyone’s trying to get off the North Shore,” everyone’s running late and too many people are still getting on their phones to say, ‘I’m late, I can’t make it,’” said Wong.

I had to call the babysitter. I was looking at the time. I was using the calculator. It was an emergency, I was calling my wedding planner.

Police have heard most of the excuses.

One woman handed a ticket by police last week blamed her husband – because he was calling her.

Tickets for using an electronic device while driving aren’t cheap – they come with a $368 fine and four points on a driver’s licence. New drivers also risk having their licence suspended.

Not counting other forms of distracted driving, North Vancouver RCMP have handed out 1,433 tickets for driving while using an electronic device so far this year.

Wong said following an enforcement blitz at high-volume intersections, the number of crashes goes down by about 23 per cent.