Demerits needed to curb distracted drivers, chief urges province

The province needs to assess demerit points for distracted driving if it wants to get motorists to ignore their mobile devices while behind the wheel, says Edmonton’s police chief.

“People are just not responding,” said Rod Knecht. “I would say it's getting worse as opposed to better.”

Police have issued more distracted driving tickets every year since 2011 when distracted driving became illegal, he said.

“We're giving out more tickets but people are just saying -  it's an annoyance, it's the cost of doing business.”

So far this year, city police have issued 4,620 tickets, compared to 4,546 last year at this time.

In most other provinces, drivers caught texting or on their cellphones earn demerits toward the loss of their licence.

For two years, the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police has been pushing for the same thing.

This week after meeting with Knecht, Alberta Justice Minister Jonathan Denis said he will consider changing the law if it’s not working.

“I always believe in basically evidence based on the facts,” he said. “If there's evidence to show that it's not working, that's something I would consider.”

The police chief has sent a letter to the minister with the evidence he wants, a spokesperson said.