Regional Jet 900 (CRJ900)
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
Deviation - Speed All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Wake Vortex Encounter
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors
The Captain was the PF (Pilot Flying) and I was PM (Pilot Monitoring) on this particular leg. On climb out on our 4th leg of the day (5 total); we were given runway heading and 8;000 ft. out of ZZZ. We contacted departure and were then assigned 10;000 ft. and a left hand turn. In the left hand turn; the Controller told us about traffic that would be at 1 o'clock and above us. Then they instructed us to level at 8;000 ft. The PF put in the new altitude and it was verified by both of us. I was looking for traffic; called it out to the PF; and when I looked back inside the aircraft at the PFD to regain my situational awareness of the aircraft I saw that we were at 265 kts. and the speed was increasing. I called out the deviation. The PF threw out the spoilers and reduced power. The speed was brought back under control. Shorty after the speed was brought back; we caught one strong bump of wake turbulence. We continued the flight was continued without incident. [Cause was] Lack of attention to aircraft situational awareness is a busy flight environment. It's imperative to know the aircraft state at all times. While trying to find the traffic I took my eyes off the MFD/PFD. While the traffic was a threat; the lack of situational awareness was too.
CRJ-900 First Officer reported the pilot flying exceeded 250 kts below 10;000 ft. on departure when he was distracted looking for traffic.