Distracted Driving Campaign – June 12-16, 2023

The Saint John Police will be conducting a Distracted Driving Campaign between June 12-16, 2023. The campaign will focus on the enforcement of distracted driving legislation and on educating the public about the dangers associated with distracted driving.

What is a distraction?

“Distracted driving is when a driver’s attention is diverted from the driving task by secondary activities (e.g., eating, talking to passengers, talking or texting on electronic communication devices (ECDs) such as cell phones and smart phones).” (Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, 2018)

What is illegal and what is not under the law?

• You cannot make or take telephone calls unless it is hands-free.
• You cannot text while driving!
• You may look at a GPS screen, but you cannot program or handle it.
• If a display screen is built into your vehicle, it is permitted. Otherwise, you cannot have it in your view.

What is the penalty?

Drivers convicted of a distracted driving offence will be fined double the minimum amount of $172.50 and lose five points from their licence.

What are the impacts?

According to data from Transport Canada’s National Collision Database, distracted driving contributed to an estimated 21% of fatal collisions and 27% of serious injury collisions in 2016. These statistics are part of an upward trend of distracted driving-related collisions, up from 16% of fatal collisions and 22% of serious injury collisions a decade earlier.