Peer pressure, social acceptability or continued enforcement.
Whatever or whomever you want to credit; the number of drivers caught using their cellphones behind the wheel appears to have dropped significantly in Richmond.
During March, Richmond RCMP ran a Distracted Driving Month campaign and issued $167 tickets to 87 motorists for the use of an electronic device while driving.
The number of people caught is down markedly from the same month in 2014, when 193 drivers were ticketed.
Richmond RCMP’s media liason officer, acting Cpl. Dennis Hwang, put the significant decrease down to a number of factors at play.
“Public awareness of the campaign appeared to play a large and positive role this year,” said Hwang.
“Continuous enforcement by our officers for distracted driving throughout the year can also be credited for the reduction in numbers.”
Throughout last month, Mounties positioned themselves at different locations across the city as part of the campaign.
Most of the operations were “static,” added Hwang, with a spotter in place to catch the drivers in the act.
