According to the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA), distracted driving is a factor in over 4 million motor vehicle collisions every year in North America. Distracted driving is considered to be at equal level with impaired driving because a driver’s judgment is jeopardized when they take their focus away from the road. 80 per cent of collisions and 65 per cent of near crashes have some form of driver inattention as contributing factors. A study has shown that in 80 per cent of collisions, the driver had looked away from the road 3 seconds prior to the crash.

In Ontario, it is illegal to:

• Operate hand-held communication and electronic entertainment devices while driving. This includes typing, talking, texting, scrolling or dialing on a phone, and manually programming a GPS device.

• View display screens unrelated to driving.

If convicted of distracted driving in Ontario, the driver will face a minimum fine of $490, up to $1000. Additionally, three demerit points will be applied to the driver’s record. The consequences can be much worse if the driver is found to endanger others with their distracted driving—this may include a six month jail term, or up to five years with a dangerous driving charge.

Despite being Ontario’s biggest road killer, distracted driving is easy to avoid. Here are a few things drivers can do to stay focused on the roads:

Keep cellular devices in the backseat

The most common form of distracted driving is using a cellphone while driving—this includes talking, texting, emailing, adjusting playlists, scrolling, etc. Reduce the temptation to pick it up by putting it somewhere out of arm’s reach. Even if the driver knows it’s wrong to be on their phone while driving, it’s easy to pick up when traffic is heavy and the driver is bored. In any situation, it is dangerous and illegal to be on the phone when driving.

“Drivers talking on cellphones are in many cases just as impaired as drunk drivers” – Insurance Bureau of Canada

Go hands-free

Any device that doesn’t need to be touched to operate other than to turn it on and off is considered “hands-free.” If the driver turns their GPS on before they begin driving it is okay, but it is technically illegal to manually program the GPS while driving.

Another great option is getting a Bluetooth device that securely attaches to the ear or the car. If for whatever reason, a driver feels that they need to answer calls while driving, this is a safe and legal option—given that the device is only being touched when activating and deactivating it.

Map out the route beforehand

Before getting in the car, the driver should have a good idea of where they are going. A driver’s eyes should always be on the road—not looking for street signs. Furthermore, planning the route ahead of time ensures that the driver isn’t constantly looking down at a map or the GPS on their phone.  If the driver has a GPS secured to the dashboard, it should be turned on before driving begins, with the instructions read aloud so the driver won’t have to continuously look at the screen.

Don’t let passengers be a distraction

There’s a reason graduated licensing in many provinces puts restrictions on the number of passengers a young driver is allowed to carry at one time—passengers can be a major distraction. Talking to or listening to a passenger while driving is similar to talking on a cellphone. It is important for a driver to warn passengers to be quiet when entering a risky situation on the road.

“Children are four times more distracting than adults as passengers, and infants are eight times more distracting than adults as passengers.”

Children are particularly distracting to drivers. One way to keep children quiet during a car ride is to supply a book, movie or some other entertainment for them.

Be mindful of music choices

If a driver wants to listen to music from their phone instead of the radio, they should create a playlist beforehand so that they aren’t on their phones scanning through songs while driving.

Drivers should also pay attention to the type of music they are listening. A 2013 study by a music psychologist in Israel has shown that music that creates a psychological response in the brain leads to daydreaming. A study of crash reports conducted by Erie Insurance found that daydreaming caused 62 per cent of distracted driving-related deaths. Hence, drivers should be mindful of their music selection, making sure that music inducing a strong positive or negative psychological response for them is left for another occasion.

So drivers, keep your eyes on the road. Distracted driving is Ontario’s biggest road killer, and that text message isn’t worth it. That’s why we’re a proud sponsor of idont.ca; take the pledge today to put a stop to distracted driving.

Fast dial #1000 free from your cell and we’ll get you the support you need.

Fog forms when cool air passes over a warm body of water or moist land – so usually when there is a big difference in temperature between the ground and the air. When the humidity is high enough and there is enough water vapor or moisture fog is sure to form.

While it is quite the eerie sight to see – it can be completely unnerving for those who have to drive somewhere and navigate through the dense fog that hangs over the roads making visibility difficult. It takes a great deal of finesse and caution when heading out on the roads, and the ability to exercise a lot of patience in order to safely arrive at your destination.

With Canadian weather providing everything across the spectrum for drivers – here are some tips to help navigate thick fog while driving.

Don’t drive unless you absolutely have to

Unless the trip is absolutely imperative – put your travel plans on pause until the weather clears up. It might mess up your schedule a bit, but it’s not worth taking the risk.

Make sure your headlights are working properly

When conditions do start to get foggier, you need to turn your headlights on. Don’t just assume they already are – many cars’ dials light up even when the headlights are turned off these days, which can be misleading. If the fog is growing increasingly thick, turn your fog lights on – but only if the density of the fog keeps increasing.

Your complete checklist for fog driving

1. If the fog is too dense to continue driving, you need to pull completely off the road and try to position your vehicle in a safe parking area. Turn on your emergency flashers, in addition to keeping your low-beam headlights on.
2. Be patient while driving. There can’t be a rush when driving in fog. Never pass someone because you won’t have the ability to see oncoming traffic.
3. Slow down gradually at every turn and make sure your speed is kept at a suitable condition if you need to break quickly.
4. Do not follow too closely to the car in front of you – their reaction time might be slowed causing you to have to break quickly.
5. Don’t speed up suddenly, even if the fog seems to be clearing. You could find yourself suddenly back in fog immediately.
6. Leverage the use of pavement markings to help guide you. Use the right edge of the road as a guide, rather than the centre line with oncoming traffic ahead. 

Remember, if the trip isn’t worth it, then you need to rearrange your day accordingly. Fog drastically impacts your driving and visibility, especially at night. So if the trip isn’t necessary – then stay at home.

If you have been injured, and need legal assistance, call #1000 on your cell phone for free. We will offer you a free claim assessment.

While the age of technology has provided advances and innovation that mankind once deemed impossible, it has a dark side. Societies unyielding need to be constantly plugged is proving to be highly dangerous.

While someone bumping into you on the sidewalk due to being distracted by his or her cell phone is irritating, the risks heighten dramatically when individuals are distracted by technology behind the wheel of a motorized vehicle.

Ontario law deems it illegal for drivers to dial, talk on the phone, type messages, text, and send emails while driving. Studies have shown that those who use their cell phone behind the wheel are four times more likely to crash than those who keep their eyes on the road ahead.

While looking down at your phone to read an important message for a brief two seconds may seem harmless, this momentary lapse of attention doubles your crash risk. No message is more important than your life and the lives of the drivers surrounding you.

Not only is the use of cell phones banned by drivers operating a vehicle, but even glancing at a display screen unrelated to driving is too. Some examples of prohibited devices are:

• iPods
• Cell phones
• Smart phones
• DVD players
• Laptops
• GPS screens
• MP3 players

With the rate of distracted driving going up, the government is strengthening the punishments on the offense to help prevent senseless collisions. The fines or penalties you can incur for distracted driving if you are a fully licensed driver are as follows:

• A fine of $400, an additional victim surcharge, and court costs. This totals to $490 if your case is settled
• Fine of up to $1000 if a summons is received or you fight your ticket
• Three demerit points added to your driving record

However, there are ways to use your devices while staying concentrated on the road and avoiding distracted driving charges. They are as follows:

• Cell phones: If your phone has an earpiece, or is connected via Bluetooth you can use it only to activate the “hands-free” function. This exemption is only permitted if the device is mounted. You are not allowed to touch or scroll through it.
• GPS: If your GPS is mounted on the dashboard or windshield, doesn’t obstruct your view of the road, and you inputted the information before you began driving – you are in the clear.
• Media player plugged into the cars sound system: Permitted as long as the playlist was activated before you began driving

Emergencies

In the event of an emergency, you can use a hand-held device to call 911, but only if you’re in a situation that is causing danger to your safety or the safety of others. If you need to make a call, pull over if you can and keep the duration short.

At Dye and Russell, we’ve seen first hand how distracted driving collisions impact the emotional and physical health of our clients.

If you have been injured, and need legal assistance, call #1000 on your cell phone for free. We will offer you a free claim assessment.