If the past four months are any indication, police across Saskatchewan will issue around 1,000 distracted driving tickets during the month of October -- maybe more, since it's the focus of this month's Traffic Safety Spotlight.

"One of the things that we want people to know this month is just how easy it is to avoid a distracted driving ticket," shared SGI's Media Relations Manager, Tyler McMurchy. "It really starts with keeping your phone out of your hand. We do say that the number of tickets is out of hand, so keeping your phone out of hand is also one way of avoiding getting a distracted driving ticket."

He said all joking aside, they have seen a significant increase in the number of distracted driving tickets.

"Which tells us that police are doing a very good job enforcing it. It doesn't necessarily mean that more drivers are driving distracted, they're just getting caught, and police are very good at catching distracted drivers," he added.

Despite the $280 fine, four demerits and vehicle impoundments for repeat offenders, too many drivers are still making it too easy for police to keep setting monthly records for distracted driving tickets.

He shared ways to avoid a distracted driving ticket this month and every month.

"Not holding, using, manipulating or viewing it if you're operating a motor vehicle," he listed. "If you're an experienced driver, you can mount it on your dash, and you can use voice-activated options. Learner drivers and novice drivers aren't allowed to use their cell phone at all while driving. We do recommend, though, if you have a passenger, handing the phone off to them."

"There's a number of things that you can't do while driving," McMurchy continued. "You can't use the phone even while you're stopped at a red light or stopped waiting for a train, even if you have it mounted on your dash, you shouldn't be watching Netflix or Youtube, you shouldn't be manipulating it while you're driving that vehicle."

Minister responsible for SGI Joe Hargrave said the provincial government is "seriously looking at tougher penalties to deter this dangerous behaviour, so put the phone away, avoid other distractions and keep your focus on the road."

Other tips to avoid distracted driving is to pull over to the side of the road and park your vehicle if there is a text you absolutely need to send or a call you need to make, don't text or talk while you are driving. If it's on speakerphone and you're holding it in front of your face while driving, that's still going to get you a ticket. Set a playlist, start a podcast, or program the GPS before the trip, let your co-pilot have the phone, put your phone in your glove box, purse, or even your trunk, and remember to pay more attention to the safe operation of your vehicle than you do to your coffee, passengers, make-up, or lost item in your bag.