Kevin Yarr

RCMP on P.E.I. are planning to increase enforcement of the province's laws regarding distracted driving.

At $575, P.E.I. has some of the highest fines in the country, but Const. Jamie Parsons said that hasn't deterred everyone from texting and driving.

Woman charged with distracted driving in collision involving infant

RCMP charged a 19-year-old woman under the Provincial Highway Traffic Act after an investigation revealed she was allegedly using a cell phone during a collision that put her, another woman and an infant in a ditch.

RCMP says a 17 year old girl was killed in a single vehicle collision in Mount Tryon Wednesday evening. 

RCMP

RCMP would like to remind drivers of Prince Edward Island that using any hand held device for any reason is a dangerous and illegal practice

Distracted driving convictions down on P.E.I., 'harder to catch' say police

According to numbers provided by the P.E.I. Department of Transportation, court convictions of distracted driving appear to be going down so far this year after years of steadily increasing.

RCMP  feel distracted driving is causing more accidents on P.E.I.

Cellphone driver

The number of convictions in P.E.I. for distracted driving appears to be doing down, but RCMP said that doesn't mean people are putting down their phones.

"We see distracted driving every day in all forms," said Parsons.

"Over the course of this summer, in the last couple of months, particularly myself, I've seen that use of cell phones seems to have risen again."

A lot of comments on our last tweet about using handheld devices while driving.... many, many.. people agree they are seeing way too much of it still going on... you can bet we will be stepping up our enforcement in the coming weeks!! Cst. Parsons <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PutThatPhoneDown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PutThatPhoneDown</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DriveSafePEI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DriveSafePEI</a> <a href="https://t.co/4jIF5pECDW">pic.twitter.com/4jIF5pECDW</a>

Parsons said new enforcement will include plain clothes officers at intersections that have been identified as problematic, and unmarked vehicles charged with locating people who are texting and driving.

RCMP will also be looking for other forms of distracted driving. Parsons said he's also seen things like people doing their makeup while sitting at a red light.

Oil industry worker of 2 decades looks to the land for his future

Colby Redsky worked in the oil industry for almost two decades until he decided to change career paths.

Redsky says it was the lifestyle that drew him to farming. "To be able to enjoy the lifestyle that accompanies owning your own farm, and enjoy that into your later years in life.” 

Colby Redsky

Redsky says it was the lifestyle that drew him to farming. 'To be able to enjoy the lifestyle that accompanies owning your own farm, and enjoy that into your later years in life.' 

How a P.E.I. village found its solution for short-term vacation rentals

As tourist rentals continue to have an impact on the availability of long-term housing in Charlottetown, the village of Victoria-by-the-Sea, P.E.I. says it's found the solution to vacant, investment properties in the area.

Since introducing new zoning bylaws in 2014, the village of Victoria-by-the-Sea says there are fewer houses sitting vacant as investment properties, and more full-time residents.

Victoria

P.E.I.'s distracted driving fines are among the highest in the country.

Put away the cell phone when driving, RCMP warn

More P.E.I. news

More Stories Like This