Photo: RCMP A recent Kelowna RCMP distracted driving blitz caught 20 people in two hours. RCMP tell Castanet they staged the driving spree in a school zone in the 600-block of Raymer Ave. on November 17, 2022. During the two-hour blitz, Mounties issued 20 distracted driving tickets, 1 every six minutes, while another ten drivers managed to avoid a fine only because the officers couldn’t keep up. “Given that this location was in a school zone and the roads are icy, these numbers are very concerning to all of us,” says Const. Mike Della-Paolera Kelowna RCMP spokesperson. Distracted driving tickets come with a $368 fine and add four driver penalty points to your driving record. This could result in a further penalty if a driver has four or more points at the end of 12 months, that person will pay a driver penalty premium. According to ICBC, on average, 76 people die each year in crashes where distracted driving is a contributing factor, and distracted driving is responsible for over a quarter of all traffic fatalities in BC. Using a hand-held device while driving has been banned in BC since 2010, including when stopped at a red light or traffic light.
