B.C. Mounties say that distracted drivers are responsible for 45 per cent of all fatal and serious car crashes and are beginning a month-long ticketing blitz.
The efforts come on the second anniversary of tougher driving laws in B.C. aimed at getting drivers' eyes back on the road and away from their phones, books and makeup mirrors.
"We've been at this for two years and last year we wrote over 32,000 tickets," RCMP Assistant Commissioner Norm Lipinski said. "We believe there's a relationship between the number of tickets we write and the reduction of fatalities that are involving distracted drivers."
Lower Mainland RCMP saw a 40-per-cent decrease in fatal collisions related to distracted drivers last year, with just 27 crashes compared to 46 in 2010.
ICBC representative Karen Klein said it may be best to lock your phone in the trunk if it means avoiding a collision.
"When you're talking on your cell phone, you're unaware of almost 50 per cent of what is going on around you, making you four times more likely to be involved in a crash," said Klein.
That risk increases 32 times if texting while driving.
For February, plainclothes spotters will stand at street corners and alert police waiting nearby if they see anyone texting, talking, reading or putting on make-up.
The fine is $167 for using a cell phone without a hands-free device and drivers will also receive three driver penalty points.
If guilty chatters deny using a phone in a crash, police said investigators can bring up evidence.
"We certainly pull phone records when we're looking at a serious injury or fatal at that time -- just to confirm they weren't on the phone," said RCMP Supt. Norm Gaumont.
