When Owen Sound police conducted a traffic enforcement blitz recently they were shocked at the number of people who weren’t doing something as simple as buckling their seatbelt.
The city force conducted a “Belts and Cells” initiative from April 4 to 7 in which they focused on people who weren’t wearing seatbelts, or were using cellphones while driving.
There were 27 charges laid for using a cellphone or handheld device while driving, along with 16 charges for failing to wear a seatbelt.
“With the legislation being in place since 1976, it seems that in this day and age something that you just do automatically is put on your seatbelt,” Insp. Jeff Fluney said Thursday. “That is why it is shocking is to see all of these people travelling around without seatbelts.”
Fluney said another factor that makes the seatbelt violations such a surprise is that it is widely known that seatbelts save lives.
“With the amount of information that has been put out to the public about seatbelt use and that seatbelts save lives, yet people are still not buckling up,” Fluney said.
Meanwhile cellphone use while operating a vehicle continues to be a major issue and Fluney said the enforcement figures show that.
“I think the feeling of a lot of people is that it is harmless or that they are only doing it for a few seconds,” Fluney said. “But the thing with that is that all it takes is a few seconds for something to happen, for someone to stop suddenly in front of you, or a child runs out on the road or something like that, and the next thing you know something tragic happens.”
The police highlight that operating a vehicle demands a driver’s complete attention at all times, with distracted driving the leading cause of injury and death for motorists in Ontario.
To discourage people from picking up their phones while driving, the police offer some tips, including turning off the phone or switching it to silent mode before getting in the car. The phone could also be placed in the glove box or in a bag in the back seat.
Another suggestion is to record a message before leaving the house telling callers you are driving and will get back to them when off the road. Some apps can block incoming calls and texts or send auto replies to people trying to call or text.
Another simple solution is to ask a passenger to take a call or respond to a text or call. If a call or text has to be made, drivers can carefully pull over to a safe area.
“Really they are tips to help people resist the temptation – resist the temptation to look, resist the temptation to answer a text and really focus on what they should be doing, which is operating a piece of machinery when you are operating a motor vehicle on the roadway,” Fluney said. “It is for everyone’s safety that they operate it properly and with their complete attention.”
Among the other charges made during the initiative were two people with driving while under suspension and one with driving with an improper muffler. There were 10 charges issued for failing to have the required licence, insurance or ownership documents in the vehicle.
Fluney said they expect to do another similar traffic enforcement initiative, likely in the coming weeks.
Keyword: Seatbelts and cellphones top concerns during Owen Sound traffic blitz