It’s been in effect for a while, but Alberta officials say that a distracted driving law is having no impact on the amount of drivers who drive while using mobile devices, so they want to stiffen the penalties.
Transportation Minister Ric McIver says that after two years, too many people are still texting or talking on the phone while they drive.
In the first eight months of 2013, Calgary Police say there were 473 crashes where distractive driving played a factor.
Police have handed out more than 12,500 tickets since the law’s inception.
“Go to any corner where there's a traffic signal and look at the people stopped at the red light and see how many of them have their cell phones up at their ear, which they already know is against the law and that'll tell you all you need to know about the compliance level,” McIver said.
He says that the government is currently seeking changes to put in place such as stiffer penalties and increasing education.
McIver says the province will stop short of seizing vehicles.
The current penalty for violating the distracted driving law is $172. There is no demerit point penalty.
