The SPVM takes part in Operation Cell Phone and Distracted Driving

04 april 2014

For the cell phone and distracted driving operation, officers from the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) held a blitz on Tuesday, March 25, 2014. On that day, officers working the night, day and evening shifts carried out 471 interventions.

The SPVM will continue the operation until April 1, in collaboration with all the police services in Québec, as well as the Association des directeurs de police du Québec, the Sûreté du Québec and the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ).

André Durocher, an inspector in the Division sécurité routière et patrouilles spécialisées, has the facts to back the strategy: “Getting a ticket for delinquent behaviour has a statistically proven positive influence on the highway safety record. It means fewer accidents, fewer people injured, fewer deaths. Drivers who are ticketed change their behaviours, and police presence is dissuasive for people who are tempted to disobey the rules.”

 

Hard to resist answering the phone or texting while driving?

According to data gathered by the SAAQ from drivers in 2012:

  • 99% think texting at the wheel is dangerous
  • 18% admit that they write or read text messages while driving
  • 67% of them say they cannot resist reading them
  • 35% say they cannot resist answering
  • 63% say there is little perceived risk of getting caught

During this joint operation, police officers will pay special attention to the inappropriate use of cell phones at the wheel and to various other infractions related to distracted driving.

For example, it is legal to use a cell phone while driving if using a Bluetooth device in order to keep both hands on the steering wheel, but it is prohibited to have a phone in your hand while driving, whether it is to talk, listen to voice messages, check email or text.

When drivers are waiting at a red light, they are considered to be driving.

 

Safety tips

  • Park legally. It is legal and above all safer to park in order to use your device in complete safety.
  • Use a hands-free system.
  • Ask a passenger to answer or make the call for you.
  • The safest option is to turn off your phone before you set out and let your voice mail pick up your calls.

 

Find out more 

Cell phone and texting - SAAQ

Focus Mode Mobile Application - SAAQ

Download the Focus Mode Mobile Application - Google Play