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Driving
is a complex activity that requires your full attention to process
information both inside and outside the vehicle. Driver distractions can lead
to serious motor vehicle crashes causing injuries or even death. For the most
part, these injuries are preventable and predicable. Everyone can make our
roads safer by limiting distractions and understanding and the law.
Eyes on the Road….Hands on the Wheel….Focus on Driving
Possible driver
distractions include:
- Adjusting stereos,
CD and DVD players, radios, and MP3 players and other entertainment
devices
- Using hand held cell
phones
- Reading maps,
directions or other material including GPS devices
- Grooming (combing
hair, putting on make-up or shaving)
- Eating, drinking or
smoking
- Talking with
passengers
- Tending to children
or pets
- Looking at an
outside person, event or object
(Road Safety Think Tank,
October 5, 2004 & Driver’s Handbook, Ministry of Transportation)
The effects of distracted
driving include:
- Delay in processing information which can
result in fewer eye movements, more time looking straight ahead and less
time checking instruments and mirrors
- Decreased capacity
to focus on the primary task of driving
- More instances of
hard breaking
- Increased risk of
collision
(Road
Safety Think Tank, October 5, 2004)
Prevention Team at the
Middlesex-London Health Unit at 519-663-5317 Ext. 2220
January
2010 Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention Team
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Stop Distracted Driving
- Check your
directions and map before your trip
- Ask a passenger to
help you navigate
- Turn off your cell
phone when you get into your car
- Never text and
drive! Texting takes your eyes and mind off the road and your hands off
the wheel
- Don’t answer your
cell phone or other hand-held devices while driving. Get in the habit of
turning these devices off when you get into your car
- Tell everyone that
you no longer take calls while driving. Change your cell phone voice
mail to let callers know that you may be driving and you will call them
back later
- Pull over somewhere safe if you need to
make an urgent call, check a message, deal with the passengers, eat or
drink, etc.
- Adjust your music
and dashboard controls ahead of time or adjust them when the car is
stopped
- Be well rested
before getting behind the wheel
- Deal with potential
distractions before you hit the road such as putting on make-up
adjusting seat, combing hair
- Ask passengers to
keep conversation to a minimum and help you navigate
(Adapted with permission
from the Insurance Bureau of Canada)
Ontario’s Distracted
Driving Legislation
Effective
October 26, 2009 the Ontario government passed a new law that prohibits the
use of hand-held wireless communication devices or hand-held electronic
entertainment devices while driving. The ultimate goal of this new law is to
reduce collisions involving driver distractions.
Banned while driving,
unless the vehicle is pulled off the roadway or lawfully parked
- Hand-held wireless
communications devices such as cell phones, smart phones
- Hand-held electronic
entertainment devices such as iPods, or portable MP3 players, or
portable games, Global positioning system (GPS)
- Texting and emailing
- Viewing display
screens on devices not required for driving such as laptop or DVD player
Items allowed while
driving
- Hands-free wireless
communications devices with an earpiece or Bluetooth device
- 911 calls
- Pressing the button
of a hand-held device to activate hands-free made for incoming or
outbound calls
- GPS units mounted on
dashboard or secured to another place in the vehicle
- Collision avoidance
systems
Drivers
who place others at risk as a result of their distracted driving can be
charged with Careless Driving and face fines of up to $1,000, six demerit
points, driver’s licence suspension and possible jail time. Drivers convicted
of Dangerous Driving (a criminal offence), could face a penalty of up to
$2,000 and five years in jail.
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/distracted-driving/index.shtml
For more information
about Road Safety, contact the Chronic Disease & Injury
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