RCMP: Smart Watch Not So Smart
By Castlegar Source
A Castlegar woman learned the hard way that distracted driving applies to more than just phones, according to West Kootenay Traffic Services Sgt. Chad Badry.
“On March 11, an officer with the West Kootenay Integrated Road Safety Unit nabbed a driver for using an electronic device while driving on Columbia Avenue in Castlegar,” Badry said in a press release Wednesday. “The difference this time was the electronic device was a smart watch.
“What initially grabbed the officer’s attention was the driver focussing intently on her watch. He then watched her start to tap and swipe the watch. A subsequent pull over determined that the driver was using a smart watch. This was a clear case of using an electronic device while driving which starts with a penalty of $368.
“It’s almost worse than using a conventional cell phone,” he added. “Trying to steer and read messages on a smart watch is just not smart. Aside from the potential penalty if caught, the consequences could be devastating for all involved as we saw exemplified in the Quebec court decision yesterday.”
March is distracted driving/occupant restraint month for all police in BC.
“The RCMP in BC would like to remind driver’s to be smart about using their smart devices.”
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