Distracted driving is now the number one factor in driving deaths in Metro Vancouver, police say.
Inattentive driving is now a factor in 47 per cent of fatal crashes, overtaking speed (36 per cent) and drinking (21 per cent) as the biggest danger behind the wheel.
"I think people really think they can multitask while driving," said RCMP Supt. Norm Gaumont.
"What they don't understand is driving in the Lower Mainland is very unpredictable."
And it's not just cell phones taking away the attention of drivers. According to Gaumont, police have seen people putting on make-up, reading books and even looking at their laptops while driving.
Since the beginning of July, Mounties have handed out more than 2,000 tickets to drivers for using electronics.
When BCAA surveyed drivers earlier this year, only 15 per cent believed there is a high risk of getting caught for distracted driving, down from 26 per cent a year ago.
"In January 2010 when the law was brought into place there was the perception that there was a fairly good chance that you could be caught," said BCAA spokesman Trace Ackers.
Police are hoping to restore that perception by cracking down on distracted driving throughout September. Any violation of the distracted driving law -- including manually programming a GPS system, talking on the phone or watching TV -- carries a $167 fine.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Maria Weisgarber
