On the buses: North Bay police to use transit to catch distracted drivers

Police in North Bay are using innovative tactics – including having officers ride city buses – to catch people using their cellphones while they are driving.

Police in North Bay are looking at new ways to crack down on distracted driving.

It’s part of a new multi-year traffic management and safety plan.

The plan prioritizes six safety concerns: distracted driving, aggressive driving, impaired driving, creating safer intersections and vulnerable road users, including pedestrians and cyclists.

Police said the number of deaths from distracted driving are on track to be double the number of fatalities related to impaired driving.

In the last five years in the city, 40 per cent of the fatal and injury collisions were caused by distracted driving.

Head down, phone on lap

“It has been an issue for us -- and it continues to be an issue,” said Sgt. Greg McClenaghan.

Police have unveiled a 60-day strategy called ‘Project Busted,’ in which officers will ride city buses to gain a better vantage point to spot drivers using cellphones from below the sight line.

Some drivers put their phones on their lap, which makes it difficult for officers in patrol cars to see.

“One of your first indicators ... are people with their head down,” McClenaghan said.

“Usually when they’re stopped at stop signs or traffic lights (is) when they’ll access their devices.”

If an officer sees the violation while aboard the bus, they’ll radio ahead to another police officer following behind the bus who then can pull the driver over.

McClenaghan said the message about the dangers of distracted driving has been hammered home for years.

“Because distracted driving laws have been around for so long, we’re going to take a zero-tolerance approach,” he said.

A first-time conviction carries a $650 fine if the case is settled out of court. If it goes to court and the driver is found guilty, the fine can go up to $1,000, along with three demerit points and a three-day driver’s licence suspension.

McClenaghan said the onus is on drivers to make better choices.

“Decisions that you make when you’re in a motor vehicle, you know, good decisions will save lives,” he said.

“Ultimately ... road safety is everybody’s responsibility.”

Nearly three out of four Canadians admit to having been distracted while behind the wheel. And statistics find distracted driving is the No. 1 risk on Canadian roads and is the main factor in eight out of every 10 collisions.