About Distracted Driving
In this day and age people tend to multi-task everything, from reading while walking to eating while working. What happens when you multi-task while operating a motor vehicle? How much are you missing when you’re distracted from the primary task of driving?
Distracted Driving Statistics
The Canadian Automobile Association has displayed some alarming statistics:
- Cell phones are one of the most common distractions for drivers. Drivers engaged in text messaging on a cellular phone are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash or near crash event compared with non-distracted drivers. (Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, 2010)
- 84% of distracted-driving-related fatalities in the US were tied to the general classification of carelessness or inattentiveness (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2009)
- 80% of collisions and 65% of near crashes have some form of driver inattention as contributing factors (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2010)
- Distracted drivers are 3 times more likely to be in a crash than attentive drivers (Alberta Transportation, 2011)
- Children are four times more distracting than adults as passengers, and infants are eight times more distracting than adults as passengers
- Driver distraction is a factor in about 4 million motor vehicle crashes in North America each year
- Economic losses caused by traffic collision-related health care costs and lost productivity are at least $10 billion annually. That's about 1% of Canada's GDP! (Government of Canada)
- Economic losses caused by traffic collision-related health care costs and lost productivity are at least $10 billion annually. That's about 1% of Canada's GDP! (Government of Canada)
- In 2010, distracted driving was a contributing factor in 104 collision fatalities in British Columbia (RCMP)
- International research shows that 20% to 30% of all collisions involve driver distraction (Alberta Transportation, 2011)
Common Distractions
- Passengers and conversation
- Smoking
- Eating and drinking
- Communication devices
- Reading street signs and advertising
- Navigation systems
- Personal grooming
- Adjusting vehicle stereo
Common Outside Vehicle Distractions
- Bad driver behavior
- Pedestrians
- Road construction
- Other vehicles and cyclists
- Emergency vehicles
- Collision scenes
Penalty in Ontario
If you endanger others because of any distraction, including both hand-held and hands-free devices, you can also be charged with careless driving. If convicted, you will automatically receive:
- six demerit points
- fines up to $2,000 and/or
- a jail term of six months
- up to two-year license suspension
You can even be charged with dangerous driving (a criminal offence), with jail terms of up to five years.
Tips to Avoid Distractions
- Use your cell phone only when you're parked, or have a passenger take the call.
- Let calls go to voicemail.
- Turn off your cell phone before you start driving.
- Identify and preset your vehicle's climate control, radio and CD player.
- Plan your route and set your GPS before you leave.
- When you're hungry or thirsty, take a break. Don't eat or drink while you drive.
- When tired, rest at the nearest parking lot or rest stop.
- Avoid other distractions like reading maps, grooming activities and tending to children and pets.
