British Columbia

Police use cherry picker to nab distracted drivers in North Vancouver

Police officers on Vancouver's North Shore were literally looking down on distracted drivers yesterday.

One in four deaths on B.C. roads involves distracted driving

Distracted driving is a big problem in British Columbia, even to the point where police officers resort to cherry picking to nab distracted drivers. (Twitter / North Vancouver RCMP)

Police officers on Vancouver's North Shore were literally looking down on distracted drivers yesterday. 

An officer donned a yellow vest and sat atop a cherry picker along Marine Drive in North Vancouver, B.C. to point out distracted drivers. 

West Vancouver Police and North Vancouver RCMP teamed up for the crack down.

"Most drivers understand that using their phone increases their risk of crashing yet many still do it," said Harvey Kooner, local ICBC road safety coordinator.

Police say one in four deaths on B.C. roads involves distracted driving, and that motorists are five times more likely to crash if using a phone. 

Police are urging drivers to ignore their mobile devices while behind the wheel, or to pull over if they must take a call.