According to the RCMP, today, in Provincial Traffic Court in Airdrie, a 40-year-old male from Alberta, was sentenced for his 13th distracted driving conviction. Hence, the RCMP is reminding the public of the dangers of distracted driving.

"For this 13th conviction, he received a $2,000 fine and a $300 victim surcharge. The individual also received three demerit points for the conviction," an RCMP release stated.

Following a large public education campaign, distracted driving became illegal in Alberta on September 1, 2011, however that same day, the individual was issued a distracted driving ticket.

"The individual has now been convicted a total of 13 times for distracted driving here in the province, with fines totalling $7,665."

Research has shown driver distraction is the primary cause of over 20 per cent of all crashes, and that distracted drivers are three times more likely to be involved in a collision than attentive drivers.

Alberta’s distracted driving law applies to all vehicles as defined by the Traffic Safety Act and all roads in Alberta. It restricts drivers from doing any of the following, even while stopped in traffic or at red lights:

  • Using hand-held mobile devices
  • Texting or emailing
  • Using electronic devices such as laptop computers, video games, cameras, video entertainment displays, and portable audio players
  • Entering information on GPS units
  • Reading printed materials
  • Writing, printing, or sketching
  • Personal grooming, such as brushing and flossing teeth, putting on makeup, curling hair, clipping nails, or shaving