The campaign to crack down on distracted drivers has revealed a surprising twist.
RCMP Sgt. Bob Verbree says that while local drivers seem to be getting the message about the use of hand-held devices while driving they don’t seem to have caught onto the long-time message of wearing a seatbelt.
“We’ve been writing more charges for the non use of seatbelts than for the use of cellphones,” he says.
The message of wearing seatbelts is a long-standing one and Verbree says it’s taxing that after so long people are still in contravention of the law.
“We’ve been working away at that for a good many years already and people don’t want to wear their seat belts and don’t recognize the benefit of the seatbelt.”
The fine for not wearing a seatbelt is $167.
Statistics on hand-held device and seat belt infractions in the Cariboo Chilcotin Traffic Service area were not available by press time.
The RCMP’s distracted-driving enforcement campaign ends Feb. 31.