By Spencer Sterritt

Police blitz hopes to increase stigma around distracted driving

Mar 14, 2019 | 12:46 PM

NANAIMO — In one hour, police caught 11 people distracted while driving through busy downtown Nanaimo.

Officers waited at Turley’s Flowers on Terminal Ave. with a spotter placed further up the road to identify drivers before they had a chance to put their phones down.

Caroline Robinson with ICBC said the Thursday morning blitz is part of a larger initiative to create stigma around distracted driving.

“This is something we can change as a population. If it’s contributing to injuries and fatalities, that’s crazy. We should be stopping this.”

Distracted driving kills nine people on Vancouver Island roads each year and is tied to one-in-four fatalities in B.C., according to ICBC.

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Robinson said checking texts, answering calls or scrolling on the phone to pick the next song are all unnecessary actions which can wait.

“You are always responsible for what you’re doing. There’s always going to be distractions, we know that. So it’s up to each and every driver to make sure we’re focused. That’s what it’s all about.”

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit