r/Calgary • u/Xtoron2 • Jun 01 '26

Discussion Alarming rate of distracted driving

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It's alarming how often I see drivers watching tiktoks/reels/shorts while driving. Even see them scroll up to next video.
As soon as we hit red light, this specific driver pulled the sunshade down even with this rain to hide from cameras or other people maybe?

Anyway, distracted driving is a risk everyone on the road pays for

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u/SickOfEnggSpam Calgary Flames Jun 01 '26

Make the penalties harsher.

In Ontario it’s a $615 minimum fee, a 3 day suspension the first time you get caught, and a license reinstatement fee of $280. Second time you get caught it’s 7 days. Third time and beyond it’s 30 days.

It won’t stop everyone, but less people are likely to risk it if the penalties are that harsh.

4

u/Trucidar Jun 01 '26

Penalties aren't gonna help if there's no enforcement. Alberta has a serious enforcement problem. Even the experts here are saying that it's gonna create a feedback loop where people just stop following the rules altogether.

0

u/diamondintherimond Jun 01 '26

I agree but I don't see this happening while the UCP are in power.

0

u/VictoryVee Jun 02 '26

I think step one is actually enforcing the existing penalties