Police across Saskatchewan issued more distracted driving tickets in October than in any previous month.
The number of tickets issued hit an all-time high of 1,290. The overwhelming majority of those, 1,148, were for using a cellphone behind the wheel while the other 142 were for driving without due care and attention.
The previous record for total distracted driving tickets issued in a month was 1,039.
In a media release Monday, SGI said distracted driving is a leading safety concern on Saskatchewan’s roads. It was a factor in crashes that killed 22 people and injured 774 in 2018.
Earlier this month, the province announced tougher penalties for distracted drivers. They include fines that are more than double the previous amount; the changes are to kick in Feb. 1.
Other results reported through the October Traffic Safety Spotlight include 6,583 tickets for speeding/aggressive driving offences, 324 impaired driving offences and 387 tickets for improper seatbelt or child restraint use.