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REGINA ‑ Want to keep yourself and others safe? One way to do that is to not drive distracted, according to an SGI press release.

 “No one ever wants to get injured or hurt, and one easy way to reduce the number of preventable injuries is to give the road your full and undivided attention,” said Penny McCune, Chief Operating Officer of the Auto Fund in a statement.

Over the past five years (2016-2020), an average of 877 people have been injured each year in collisions caused by driver distraction and inattention on Saskatchewan roads, which represents one out of every five auto vehicle injuries, according to SGI.

Statistics also reveal distracted driving results in an average of 26 fatalities per year. SGI says distracted driving actually injures more people than collisions resulting from impaired driving and speeding combined. 

Distracted driving is the focus of October’s Traffic Safety Spotlight. Police across Saskatchewan will be looking for drivers using their cellphones or distracted in other ways.   

Offenders face a $580 ticket and four demerits for either driving without due care and attention, and holding, using, manipulating or viewing a handheld cellphone.  

Repeat offences within one year result in significantly higher ticket costs ($1,400 for a second ticket; $2,100 for a third), and seven-day vehicle impoundments.