Photo savvy motorists who slow down to take pictures of crashes on Hwy 2 can expect to net a $172 distracted driving ticket for their efforts.
RCMP Cpl. Al Nickolson of the Innisfail Integrated Traffic Services said distracted driving is getting out of hand on Hwy 2 and on city streets.
The traffic service crews patrol Hwy 2 from Red Deer to Didsbury.
Earlier this month investigators took down the licence plates of four drivers who snapped shots of a collision scene on Hwy 2 near the Hwy 27 interchange east of Olds.
“Nothing is worse than being at a crash scene when you hear a semi lock up all its brakes because the guy in front of him just stopped,” said Nickolson.
“You’re going from 110 (km/h) down to 60 or sometimes 20 km/h. All it takes is one person to ruin everyone else’s day.”
The drivers can expect their tickets in the mail any day.
Nickolson said there were no subsequent collisions on April 10 as a result of the crash or in December, when six licence plate numbers were taken at another accident scene on Hwy 2.
Nickolson said they will continue to jot down licence plates depending on manpower and the nature of investigation. The licence plates were jotted down while investigators were waiting for a tow truck.
Nickolson said Alberta motorists do not seem to be getting the message that using cellphones or electronic devices while behind the wheel is against the law.
He said some drivers will put down their phones when they spot a police car but in most cases drivers are completely oblivious to what is going on around them.
Nickolson said the police have to be in the right place at the right time to nab the drivers because it is not always that easy when there is median to cross or a driver is a few lanes over.
This long weekend, there will be extra police officers and sheriffs on the highways looking for impaired drivers, speedsters and distracted driving and checking for seatbelts.
crhyno@www.reddeeradvocate.com