The Distracted Driving Craze in Canada

Transcription

1 TELUS WISE Smartphone safety - distracted driving guide

2 Privacy Matters Welcome notes 3 1 What is distracted driving? 5 2 Did you know? 6 3 What should I consider about smartphones and distracted driving? 8 4 What are the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police s insights on distracted driving? 9 5 Policing distracted driving at a local level the Vancouver Police Department 12 6 What tips do Young Drivers of Canada have to share? Everything happens for a reason (Brad Gorski s story) 20 8 What are the distracted driving laws in Canada? 21 9 Resources 24

3 Welcome note from Andrea Goertz One of the amazing benefits of smartphones is that they keep us connected anywhere, anytime and at speeds higher than any road speed limit. Today s smartphones are more than 800 times faster than the computers aboard the Apollo 11 spacecraft when it landed on the moon in 1969, making the uses of our smartphones infinite. However, while there are tremendous opportunities, we must take advantage of them responsibly. At TELUS, we are passionate about putting our customers first, and this commitment goes far beyond customer service. Educating Canadians on how to keep their families and communities safer online, including the important topic of distracted driving, is something we take seriously. In fact, we take pride in having created this guide as part of our TELUS WISE program a unique educational program focused on Internet and smartphone safety that is available free-of-charge to all Canadians. Much of the information on distracted driving that informed our research and this guide was provided by our TELUS WISE partners, Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, Young Drivers of Canada and the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia. I would like to extend my gratitude for their contributions. Additionally, I d like to thank Brad Gorski for sharing his personal story about the realities of texting and driving. I hope you find this guide as valuable as I have in helping our families, friends and communities be safer online and on the road. Remember, hands on the wheel and eyes on the road when driving. If you have any questions please don t hesitate to contact us at wise@telus.com. Regards, Andrea Goertz Chief Communications and Sustainability Officer, TELUS Corporation 3

4 Welcome note from the CACP The CACP is dedicated to the support and promotion of efficient law enforcement and to the protection and security of the people of Canada. An important area of focus for the CACP Traffic Safety Committee is distracted driving. Denis Boucher It is unfortunate that drivers still think that answering a call or sending a text while driving has more value than a human life. As police officers we see the death and carnage that distracted related collisions can cause. Those few seconds of inattention can cause life altering injuries and death. We are pleased to partner with TELUS in the creation of this important education guide. Our hope is that you review this guide with your family and start putting these tips in action before and while you are behind the wheel. Regards, Denis Boucher (RCMP) CACP Traffic Safety Committee Gord Jones (Toronto Police) CACP Traffic Safety Committee Gord Jones 4

5 1. What is distracted driving? The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) defines distracted driving as a form of impaired driving as a driver s judgment is compromised when they are not fully focused on the road. Distracted driving qualifies as talking on a cell phone, texting, reading (e.g. books, maps, and newspapers), using a GPS, watching videos or movies, eating/drinking, smoking, personal grooming, adjusting the radio/cd and playing extremely loud music. Even talking to passengers and driving while fatigued (mentally and/or physically) can be forms of distracted driving. Distracted driving can lead to: Reduced reaction time Impaired judgment Possibly falling asleep behind the wheel Injuring or killing yourself, your passengers and/or other people (Source: RCMP - Distracted Driving) A driver s judgment is compromised when they are not fully focused on the road 5

6 2. Did you know? Distract driving the facts: According to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation A recent study shows that when drivers take their eyes off the road for more than two seconds their crash risk doubles. A driver using a cell phone is four times more likely to be in a crash than a driver focused on the road. In three seconds driving sixty kilometres per hour you travel fifty metres that s the distance across half a football field. A momentary distraction can result in death or serious injury. Drivers who use hand-held devices are four times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to cause injury. Drivers who are engaged in the following distractions are more likely to be in a crash or near crash event compared to someone who is watching the road while driving: Texting on a smartphone 23 times more likely Talking on a cellphone or smartphone 4 to 5 times more likely Reading 3 times more likely Applying makeup 3 times more likely Reaching for a moving object 9 times more likely Dialing on a hand-held device 3 times more likely Talking or listening on a hand-held device 1.3 times more likely (Source: 6

7 Additional sobering Canadian statistics The Ontario Provincial Police report that within its jurisdictions, the number of distracted driving-related fatalities in 2013 surpassed the number of impaired-related and speed-related fatalities respectively. In British Columbia distracted driving is a leading cause of car crash fatalities in the province. Police statistics show that about a quarter of all car crash fatalities in British Columbia in the last five years (2009 to 2013) were related to distracted driving. That s an average of 88 deaths per year, making distracted driving now the second-leading cause of motor vehicle fatalities in British Columbia, behind speeding (105) and narrowly ahead of impaired driving (86). (Source: ICBC) Driver distraction is a factor in per cent of fatal collisions involving teens. (Source: Young Drivers of Canada) Allstate s 2014 national distracted driving survey shows Canadians are still finding it difficult to put their phones away while driving. Here are some of the findings: 34% of Canadians admit to checking their phone while at a red light. Drivers 18 to 34 are likely 3 times more likely to send a text while at a red light. 36% of Canadian drivers admit to using their phone in stop-and-go traffic or a construction zone. Top three consequences that would stop Canadians from distracted driving: 37% injury to self or others 33% receiving a fine or a ticket 32% losing their license 57% of study participants said they would be in favor of having a technology installed in their vehicle to prevent them from using their phone when the vehicle was running. (Source: Allstate Distracted Driving 2014 Survery Results) 7

8 3. What should I consider about smartphones and distracted driving? One of the most important steps is to plan ahead before getting into your vehicle. It is critical that you keep your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. Here are a few smartphone tips to consider before even starting your vehicle 1. Before you turn your vehicle on pair your device (smartphone or cellphone) with your Bluetooth headset. If you are using a non-bluetooth heads set please plug in the headset and use only 1 ear bud, keeping one ear free to hear surrounding noises. 2. Turn your smartphone off and have your calls go to voice mail, which you can retrieve when Provincial legislation permits. You can even create a voice message to let callers know you are away from your phone and will get back to them when it is safe to do so. 3. If you don t turn your phone off before you get into the car - at the very least turn off your ring tones so you are not distracted while driving. 4. In regards to set up a notification that you are will not be able to respond to the but will do so only when Provincial legislation permits. 5. Get a smartphone buddy. Ask your passengers to make or receive calls and texts for you. 6. If you can t escape temptation from checking or answering your phone while driving put it in the trunk of your vehicle. WHILE DRIVING KEEP YOUR eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. Visit for additional distracted driving resources 8

9 4. What are the CACP s insights on distracted driving? The CACP is cognizant of the perils of distracted driving. It continues to be, and is a growing contributing factor, in many serious injury and fatal collisions. To that end police agencies across Canada continue, through enforcement and education, to attempt to curb this growing problem. Our objective, as a community of road safety partners, is that everyone gets to their destination safely at the end of the day. The public plays an important role in meeting this objective. We encourage everyone to play their part in curbing this problem. We also encourage drivers to use apps that send a message back to the caller or texter that the person they are trying to reach is driving and will contact them once they safely arrive at their destination. So please, if you can t seem to avoid the temptation, turn your phone off or put it in the trunk before you start driving, and partner with us to make Canadian roads the safest in North America. 9

10 Distracted driving 101 Question 1 Answer How do you define distracted driving? Distracted driving is essentially any action a driver engages in that does not have to do with the operation of a vehicle. Some actions may not be considered distractions by some drivers and we need to understand that these distractions are commonplace on today s roads and fall into three categories. These three distraction categories are: Manual distractions When you take your hands of the wheel. Visual distractions Removing your eyes from the sight of the road. Cognitive distractions Being distracted by thinking about something else. Question 2 Answer What are the differences in distracted driving laws across Canada? Legislation varies by province. The legal impacts of distracted driving can vary depending on the circumstances. In some provinces a person can be fined up to $2,000. They could also have their license suspended, be sentenced to driver rehab, or they can be charged with dangerous driving and even face possible jail time. Provinces continue to look at amending this legislation due to the scope of the problem. Refer to section 8 of this guide for a summary of legislation by province. Question 3 Answer Is hands-free safe? Anything that takes away your cognitive abilities while driving is not safe as people are paying attention to the conversation versus being aware of what is going on around them while driving. Question 4 Answer What about placing 911 calls while driving? Under certain provincial legislations calling 911 using hands-free is allowable. Please check your provincial legislation. If you can, when safe to do so pull over and call 911 from a stopped position. Question 5 Answer I can check messages or place/receive a call on my smartphone while stopped at a red light, correct? Absolutely not, you are still driving and it is illegal. Taking your eyes of the road for more than 2 seconds doubles your chances of crashing. 10

11 Tips on managing driver distraction Multi-tasking while driving has become commonplace. Drivers eat, drink, read, discipline their kids, use cell phones and even shave or apply make-up on the road. Most drivers, regularly or occasionally, perform personal and work-related tasks while driving. 1. Be familiar with the equipment in your car, such as the stereo system and cell phone. This is especially important if you have a new phone or car, or a rental vehicle. Practice before driving so you can perform basic functions without taking your eyes off the road. 2. Keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road. If you have a phone, use a hands-free model and keep it in its holder. 3. Make sure your children are comfortable and properly buckled up. To keep children from distracting the driver, provide them with safe items they may need for the road trip. 4. Pull over to eat or drink. By stopping, you will give yourself a break from the traffic to enjoy your refreshments. Children or adults may choke on food while in the vehicle, causing a severe distraction for the driver. 5. Check your route before leaving. If you don t know where you re going, study a road map to avoid unnecessary stress and distractions. Do not attempt to read the road map while driving. 6. Do your grooming before leaving. Don t rely on the time in your vehicle to take care of your personal routine such as applying make-up, combing your hair or shaving. 7. Do not engage in emotionally charged conversations, either with the passengers or on your mobile phone. Such discussions can result in aggressive or erratic driving behavior. 8. Don t take notes while driving. Always find a safe place to stop before writing things down. 9. Drive defensively. Be prepared for the unsafe actions of other motorists or for poor driving conditions 11

12 5. Policing distracted driving at a local level the Vancouver Police Department The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) is honoured to partner with TELUS WISE, the CACP, RCMP and the Toronto Police Service and ICBC on distracted driving. The VPD Traffic Section has an authorized strength of 83 officers. The officer in charge is Inspector Les Yeo and the 2nd in command is Staff Sergeant Ken Eng. The section is comprised of four Traffic Enforcement Units (motorcycles), two Collision Investigation Units, and a Traffic Support Unit (Commercial Vehicle Team, Hit and Run Team and a Community Road Education and Safety Team (CREST). The enforcement units are responsible for traffic related duties in those areas including: Criminal Code driving offences. Violations of the provincial Motor Vehicle Act and Regulations. Enforcement of municipal bylaws. Vehicle and pedestrian control. Collision investigations. VIP escort. The VPD has several traffic enforcement initiatives with distracted driving being at the forefront. Since changes to the Motor Vehicle Act came into force on February 1, 2010 they continue to be committed to enforcing the laws associated to distracted driving through enforcement and education including drivers who continue to use hand-held cell phones, hand-held communications and entertainment devices while driving. Distracted driving is now the second leading contributing factor of vehicle fatalities in British Columbia. Police and the Province of British Columbia are continuing to look at increased fines for distracted driving. 12

13 Presently in British Columbia the use of electronic devices: (1) A person must not use and electronic device while driving or operating a motor vehicle on a highway. Use Electronic Device while driving Fine $ plus three points (2) Without limiting subsection (1), a person must not communicate by means of an electronic device with another person or another device by electronic mail or other text-based message. Texting / while driving Fine $ plus three points. 25(15) Graduated Licence Drivers (GLP) Those drivers with an N or L are not permitted to use an electronic device (including Bluetooth). Disobey Drivers Licence restriction electronic devices - $ On a whole, front-line officers have not seen much of a change in the use of cell phones by drivers. In the start, most people were using the phone to make calls and were holding it right to their ear. Many people still do this, but we have seen a shift where people try to hide it, by holding it on their thigh or lap and use the speaker phone. Some think this is okay. Others think that it is okay if they are stopped in traffic or at a red light and then check their phones to text or make a call. The reality is that any cell phone use is a distraction that can have serious consequences. Not only does cell phone use take away attention from a complex multitasking function (driving a car), it also perpetuates itself. Society has become dependent, and some would say addicted, to mobile electronic devices. A common myth is that it is the younger generation, but in speaking to our enforcement officers, it is a common problem across all generations. We continue to remind drivers to put their hand held electronic devices away when they get behind the wheel and to stay focused at all times while driving. Studies have shown that texting behind the wheel takes a driver s eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds. The few seconds it takes a driver to look at their cell phone, they can travel the length of a football field. Education is such an important component to distracted driving and we must continue to focus on this aspect. The world is wired for instant communication and the education must start with elementary school aged children to send the message that this is a very serious issue and that we need everyone to help and prevent it. We have to make a commitment to ourselves and others to not use our electronic device behind the wheel. If we do that, it will make our roads safer for everyone. 13

14 Enforcement and education The VPD works closely with stakeholders such as the ICBC and WorkSafeBC, and participating in the two provincial distracted driving campaigns as approved by the BCACP (British Columbia Association of Chiefs of Police) Traffic Safety Committee. In 2014, two distracted driving campaigns were held: 1. February 1-28, 2014 During this campaign, the VPD wrote a total of 1,448 distracted driving tickets. 2. September 1-30, 2014 During this campaign, the VPD wrote a total of 1,089 distracted driving tickets. Throughout the year, traffic enforcement officers work on different distracted driving projects, including: 1. Citizens Crime Watch (CCW) Volunteers CCW volunteers are a second set of eyes for the police. They are volunteers who are overseen by a Sergeant. These volunteers patrol in their own vehicles on weekend evenings and if they see anything that should be reported to the police, they contact the Sergeant who in turn generates a call for patrol officers. The group of volunteers have been a great asset for the VPD. On occasion, our enforcement teams will utilize the CCW volunteers. A plainclothes officer will ride in the passenger seat of the CCW s personal vehicle and patrol the major arterial routes looking for distracted driving violators. Motorcycle officers will be a few blocks out of view. Once a distracted driver is observed, the motor officers move in and conduct a traffic stop. This has proven to be very successful. 2. Traffic Enforcement Plainclothes Projects One or two members from an enforcement team with be dressed in plainclothes and stand at a busy intersection looking for distracted drivers. The motor officers will be staged a few blocks away in all four directions. When the plainclothes officers observe a violator, it is radioed to the members who will then conduct a traffic stop. 3. Partner with WorkSafeBC Cone Zone Alliance Enforcement officers partner with Work Safe BC at construction sites. One of our officers will dress as a Flag Person and look for distracted driving violators and other violations while the other officers are set up to conduct the traffic stop. These projects are two-fold where the message is too slow down in construction zones to keep flaggers safe and that distracted driving will not be tolerated. 4. Patrol Officer based projects - The Traffic Section continues to engage our patrol officers to write violation tickets. The Operations Division District Patrol Teams will conduct traffic enforcement projects to augment work done by the Traffic Section. They often have one or two members dressed in plainclothes and will stand at a busy intersection looking for distracted drivers. The rest of the team is staged a few blocks away. When the plainclothes officers observe a violator, it is radioed to the members who will then conduct a traffic stop. 14

15 Testimonials by Traffic Enforcement Officers The VPD has four dedicated enforcement teams who patrol on Harley Davidson motorcycles. Here are some testimonials from our highly experienced officers on distracted driving: I was just holding it I have written hundreds of cell phone tickets and have prosecuted numerous tickets with almost 100% success. I have heard many excuses with the most common one being, I was just holding it. It seems that holding and using cannot be melded into one definition. Drivers seem to forget that in order to use most anything, you have to have it in your hand. Whether they are checking the time, moving it from one pocket to another or picking it up because it fell off their seat, it all adds up to use. Anytime the device is in a hand while they are driving, they are breaking the law. I have seen many people holding the phone in their hands and when I pull beside them, the phone is on their lap (often with the screen still lit). This is still a violation. Anywhere the phone may be used includes the lap, a cup holder and the door arm rest, to name a few. No one is over represented in the tickets I write: young and old, male or female, new or experienced driver. Everyone is using, holding, talking on, texting with or reading something on their phones. And don t forget about GPS. Use it - yes hold it - no! I had one lady holding her phone in her hand to check directions to her home in Richmond. She was given a ticket and asked if she needed help getting out of Vancouver. She declined, but I still pointed her in the direction of Richmond. I just happened to follow her path and two traffic lights and only 5 minutes later, I pulled next to her and saw her holding her phone again! I have seen people looking down in the classic cell phone pose in traffic with their faces lit by their cell phone screen. The light turns green and cars in front of them move. They do not. It s not until I am standing right beside the driver s window and knock do they jolt their heads up and put their phones down. Too late, prepare to receive a ticket. 15

16 Distracted drivers come from all age groups After spending thousands of hours watching drivers I would say an average of 10 percent of all drivers at any given time are using an electronic device while driving with about half of those users using the device illegally, and the other half legally using a mounted GPS or hands-free telephone function. I ve seen distracted drivers from all age groups and walks of life though there are comparatively few elderly users. The common thread binding the offenders seems to be attitude. Many think that it is an emergency when they have to look up an address, notify people that they re late or answer calls from family. Others are simply bored with traffic and occupy their time by playing with their phone. The main problem is the addiction people generally have with their cell phone which is only getting worse. I had a chat with one of the JJP s about it and from what he has seen; the problem is not getting any better. The education is out there but the addiction has remained. Interestingly enough, a large proportion of the people holding the phone in front of their face and using the speakerphone tell me, But I m using hands-free. When I ask them how it can be hands-free if they re holding the phone in their hands, most get a thoughtful look on their face before it actually dawns on them, and then offer the excuse that it wasn t up to their ear. Others just continue to argue, adamant that speakerphone is hands-free whether it s in their hand or not. While enforcing distracted driving at red lights I ve been clipped once and almost driven over twice by drivers who were fully stopped at a red light and too busy looking at their phone when they started to accelerate forward towards the officer in the high visibility Gore-Tex jacket or vest who had been standing in front of them for half the red light cycle waiting for them to look up. Since then, I ve learned that I must always knock on the window to get their attention first. Being connected I believe that the problem with distracted driving (electronic device) is something that technology has created and society has bought into with the concept of being connected. A mass education program must take place, world-wide, to combat the issue. Using your electronic device while driving needs to be seen as a un-cool thing to do; like drinking and driving or roadrage. Most drivers that I have stopped say that they were under the impression that it is okay to use their device while stopped at a red or stopped in traffic. 16

17 Some of the usual observations I see most often are: Use of the device while driving (texting while holding the device low at leg level). Use of the device while stopped at a red light or in heavy traffic. Using speaker phone while holding the device. Using speaker phone when device is placed on driver s lap. Using a device while driving is against the law In my opinion, people talking on cell phones while driving has decreased significantly. One thing that I have noticed is drivers now know that using a device while driving is against the law. Therefore, drivers talking on cell phones has appeared to decrease, but now drivers are trying to be sneakier with how they communicate with the devices while driving. More and more drivers are holding the phones down between their legs, or beside the consoles in the vehicles. This creates an even larger problem. Before drivers were distracted because of the conversations, now they are distracted because they are trying to hide the actions from police. At red lights, drivers continually grab devices and begin looking at text messages and even returning them. It is hard to enforce this unless you are in plainclothes, in a position to look into the vehicles to confirm the driver is in fact on an electronic device and not just changing a radio station or grooming themselves. Common excuses heard by Officers: Someone called so I had to answer to tell them I m driving and can t talk on the phone! It s not a phone! (I asked what is it then? ). It s a work phone! I m lost and I m just looking for directions. It s an emergency, my child is sick (while child safely at school or daycare) It s an emergency, my sister got into an accident and was wondering what she should do. I was just checking the time. 17

18 Some distraction driving observations by Officers: People holding their ipad against the steering wheel and actively reading an ebook while driving in rush hour. When asked why, one had responded that she found the drive to be boring. Playing online poker on cell phone. Looking at their Facebook and Instagram. Holding the phone on their shoulder with their chin. Cell phone in one hand, cigarette or food in the other hand and steering with their knee. Vehicle weaving all over road and when officer spoke to the driver, she said she had her phone resting on her leg when it slid off and she had to reach down to the floor to retrieve it. Everyone needs to be a part of changing the attitudes and behaviours in regards to distracted driving. A phone call or a text can wait until you reach your destination. It is not worth the risk of causing a collision and possibly causing an injury to yourself or others. Safety is a priority and everyone plays a vital role in keeping our roads safe. Education is important and emphasizing the consequences on the hazards of cell phone use is extremely important. There are very good advertisements circulating on the dangers of distracted driving. We must continue with strict enforcement, to look at the fines and penalty points, participate in distracted driving campaigns and engage and encourage large corporations such as cellular phone companies and automobile companies to play a larger role in distracted driving by bringing education and safety to local communities. Ken Eng Staff Sergeant 1667 Vancouver Police Department Traffic Section 18

19 6. What tips do Young Drivers of Canada have to share? Did you know driver distraction is a factor in per cent of fatal collisions involving teens? I am sure you ll agree that these stats are scary. Young Drivers of Canada have the following useful tips for teens and parents to help them avoid smartphone distractions while driving and impart positive behaviours to stop distracted driving for good. Out of sight, out of mind: Keep your phone out of your line of sight; keep it in your purse, in the glove box, or in the back seat to remove the temptation to check it. Put it on silent: Make sure your phone is on silent with vibrate turned off so you don t get distracted by incoming notifications. Better yet, switch it off entirely! Your messages will all be there when you ve safely reached your destination. Pull over: If you absolutely must check your phone or take a call, pull over to a safe location like a parking lot or a side street. Use the buddy system: If you re travelling with passengers, have them hold your phone for you. Parents, teach your kids: When parents learned to drive, smartphones didn t exist. As parents, we need to get with the times, lead by example and start teaching our teens that there s never a good time to use a smartphone while driving. Let your friends and family know you re driving: Notify your friends and family before you get in the driver s seat that you ll be driving and unable to answer their calls or texts. So next time you get behind the wheel, don t be an instigator! All your messages will still be there when you arrive safe and sound at your destination and the best part, your passengers and everyone else on the road will thank you for doing the right thing. 19

20 7. Everything happens for a reason (Brad Gorski s story) You think it will never happen to you, I can do it carefully I m good at it, it only happens to other people real quick at the next red light. I see people close to me and all my friends doing it carefully - everything s good. At least that s how I felt. I never understood the consequences of texting and driving. Let me tell you my story, a story about how bad of an idea that is no matter what your excuse is, no matter how old you are and how it can change everything in an instant. Hey, my name is Brad Gorski and I m 30 years old. I was your typical kid growing up, played a lot of hockey and baseball, enjoyed working out, did the mountain quite a bit and hung out with my buddies, as much as possible was having fun like any other young guy would but I was like a lot of people out there, both young and old; I thought I was invincible, never saw it coming because it could never waitthought I had perfected the driving, shifting, playing with my phone distracted driving. October 30, 2005 a Sunday afternoon in perfect driving conditions, I left the gym and was driving the very familiar 5 to 6 minute drive home, when I thought checking my cell would be a good idea you know the missed calls and texts after the gym, how most people do: left hand on the steering wheel, right hand on my shifter/cell phone, head down looking at it for about 2-3 seconds at a time while I play with it. Consequently, I blew through a solid red light and was T-boned drivers side by a semi-tractor trailer unit, yea a semi-truck. Take a second to snap your fingers (SNAP) - that is how that quickly my life changed, 5 minutes from home, at 21 years old. I was placed in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) with a 90% chance (that s 9 times out of 10) that I would not regain consciousness or wake up and if I did, I most likely would not walk, nor feed myself. Emergency crew who showed up told me after, thought we were showing up to a fatality. On the Coma scale, worst being a 5 I was judged a 4 when brought in 5 s dead. Thought I had perfected texting and driving, remember! 7 weeks later I woke up without the ability to sit up on my own, without the ability to walk, without the ability to talk, without the ability to remember what had happened and with a traumatic brain injury. Remember, it changed my life in the snap of your fingers. I spent 7 months, in 3 hospitals and did countless hours of physiotherapy, cognitive work, speech therapy, learning of wheelchair use and a whole lot of unnecessary worrying for a kid in his early 20 s. To this day I am still working on getting my body back, still doing things to get my brain back and still feel the effects of thinking It will never happen to me. Now I have a lifetime of getting better in front of me all because I couldn t ignore my phone for 5 minutes. I wonder how important the text was. I will probably will never find out distracted driving. If only I knew what then end result would be. Not worth the risk! 20

21 8. Distracted driving laws in Canada Below please find a summary of distracted driving laws in Canada, as of October Please check links provided by province as distracted driving legislations may have changed since the publication of this guide. Jurisdiction What is prohibited? Penalty Alberta Effective September 1, 2011: using hand-held cell phones texting or ing using electronic devices like laptop computers, video games, cameras, video entertainment displays and programming portable audio players (e.g., MP3 players) entering information on GPS units reading printed materials in the vehicle writing, printing or sketching, and personal grooming Complements the current driving without due care and attention Legislation. Applies to all vehicles as defined by the Traffic Safety Act, including bicycles. Applies to all roads in both urban and rural areas of the province. Additional information can be found at: $172 no points British Columbia Effective January 1, 2010: Part 3.1 (Sections through 214.6) of the MVA p rohibits the use of electronic devices while driving, with limited exceptions. Hands-free devices that can be operated through voice control or one touch are allowed for most drivers, but not those in GLP. Additional information can be found at: s (1) (use of a device) - $167 plus 3 points (effective Oct 20, 2014) s 214.2(2) (texting or ing) - $167 plus 3 points new driver s 25(15) use of a device - $167 plus 3 points Manitoba Hand-held electronic devices (calling, texting, etc.). Additional information can be found at: details&program_id=5180 $200 plus 2 points 21

22 Jurisdiction What is prohibited? Penalty New Brunswick Telephone calls: You cannot make or take calls when driving unless your telephone is hands-free or single-touch. If there is an emergency, you can call 911. Only while driving a police, fire or ambulance vehicle are you allowed to make or take a call. Texting: You are not allowed. Ever. Portable GPS: You can look at your GPS screen, but you cannot program or handle it. MP3 or other entertainment devices: You can handle built-in devices. If you have a portable device plugged in while you drive, you can listen, but you cannot touch. Display screen: If it is built into your vehicle, it is fine. Otherwise, you cannot have it in your view. Two-way radio: You can use a two-way radio if driving for commercial purposes or driving a commercial vehicle (a bus or vehicle with gross mass of 4,500 kg or more), or involved in an emergency operation or search-and-rescue. Additional information can be found at: safety/promo/driver_distraction.html $ plus 3 points Newfoundland and Labrador Hand-held cell phones, plus text messaging on any device Additional information can be found at: $ plus 4 points Nova Scotia Hand-held cell phones, plus text messaging on any device Legislation is being revised, and is expected to include activities such as shaving, applying makeup, eating and sitting a dog on the driver s lap. Additional information can be found at: $164-$337 no points Nova Scotia recently announced it was increasing fines to $234 for a first offence to $579 for a third or subsequent offence, and adding 4 points. 22

23 Jurisdiction What is prohibited? Penalty Ontario The law makes it illegal for drivers to talk, text, type, dial or using hand-held cell phones and other hand-held communications and entertainment devices. The law also prohibits drivers from viewing display screens unrelated to the driving task, such as laptops or DVD players, while driving. The use of hands-free devices is still permitted, and drivers may use hand-held devices to call Hands-free use means that apart from activating or deactivating the device, it is not held during use and the driver is not physically interacting with or manipulating it. Actions such as dialing or scrolling through contacts, or manually programming a GPS device, for example, are not allowed. Additional information can be found at: $280 Under proposed legislation, judges would be able to fine offenders between $300 and $1,000 for distracted driving alone. P.E.I. Hand-held wireless communication devices Additional information can be found at: php3?number= &lang=e $ plus 3 points Quebec Hand-held devices that include a phone function, plus using it hands-free. Additional information can be found at: $ plus 3 points (penalties under review) Saskatchewan Hand-held communication equipment GLP drivers not allowed hands-free Additional information can be found at: html $280 plus 4 points Effective June 27, 2014, second and subsequent offences of using a wireless communication device while driving, in a 1 year period, will result in a 7-day vehicle impoundment. Yukon Drivers with a full-privilege licence are not allowed to use handheld electronic devices having the capability of talking, texting or ing, while driving. Drivers in the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Program are not allowed to use the following while driving: Any hand-held electronic devices with the capability of talking, texting or ing, and Any hands-free devices. Additional information can be found at : roadsafety/distracted.html $250 plus 3 points 23

24 9. Resources Check out the following resources to learn more about distracted driving and how you can make the roads safer by practicing safe driving including safe smartphone use. CAA (Canadian Automobile Association) distracted driving education Distracted driving laws across Canada Insurance Bureau of Canada Leave the Phone Alone RCMP distracted driving resources TELUS WISE (WISE Internet and Smartphone Education) Young Driver of Canada If you have any questions please contact us at 24

25 How you can participate in TELUS WISE Visit us at telus.com/wise Contact us at Book a personalized training session to learn about your smartphone features at one of our over 300 TELUS Learning Centres Join the conversation online on Twitter and using #TELUSWISE TELUS, TELUS WISE, the TELUS logo, and the future is friendly are trademarks of TELUS Corporation, used under license TELUS. 14_00725