Texting and driving at the same time is not only difficult to do 鈥� it鈥檚 potentially deadly 鈥� and ICBC is out to prove it.
A distracted driving simulator, now available for use by schools, businesses and community groups in 91原创, shows just how hard it is to concentrate on the road when your vehicle is full of potential diversions.
The simulator takes motorists through a virtual scenario where they must drive their friend to work, and multi-task between using a cellphone, listening to a conversation and looking out for hazards on the road.
Both a 91原创 Times reporter and Leanne Cassap, ICBC鈥檚 road safety and community co-ordinator for the 91原创s, were unable to make it very far in the challenge. Both lost control when attempting to type a text and turn a corner at the same time.
鈥淒istracted driving is now the second leading cause of car crash fatalities on our roads 鈥� it鈥檚 actually outnumbered the number of impaired driving fatalities,鈥� Cassap said. 鈥淎nd you鈥檙e actually five times more likely to crash when you鈥檙e using your hand held cellphone.
鈥淪tudies show that you lose 50 per cent of what is going on around you when you use a hand held phone.
鈥淪o when you鈥檙e behind the wheel, take a break from your phone.鈥�
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Distracted driving, which involves any activity 鈥� not just texting and calling 鈥� that causes the driver to lose focus on the road, is one of the top factors in police reported injury crashes in B.C., Cassap said.
There has also been a 鈥渞apid increase鈥� in crashes throughout the province, with approximately 875 crashes happening every day.
That鈥檚 the equivalent of one crash every two minutes.
鈥淢any of these are caused by distracted driving or inattentive drivers,鈥� Cassap said.
In an effort to combat this, ICBC has listed several tips online to help drivers remove the temptation of using their phones while behind the wheel. ICBC has also teamed up with the RCMP to implement a provincial road and safety campaign on this issue throughout the month of March.
ICBC TIPS:
鈥� No call, text or email is so important it鈥檚 worth risking your life or the lives of others. Let calls go to voicemail and ignore your text messages while driving;
鈥� Turn it off and put it out of sight or turn on airplane mode to avoid the temptation to check your phone;
鈥� Assign a designated texter. Ask your passengers to make or receive calls and texts for you;
鈥� Pull over to make or receive a call when it鈥檚 safe to do so. For longer journeys, look for signs at highway rest areas, some of which now provide free Wi-Fi;
鈥� Use the 鈥楧o Not Disturb While Driving鈥� feature on iOS devices, 鈥業n-Traffic Reply鈥� on Samsung phones, or download a similar app to help you avoid using your phone while driving;
鈥� Don鈥檛 use your cellphone at a red light. The law applies whenever you鈥檙e in control of the vehicle, whether stopped at a red light or in bumper-to-bumper traffic;
鈥� Keep your hands off. Hands-free means a Bluetooth, wired headset or speakerphone that can be operated with one touch or voice commands. Make sure to secure the cellphone to the vehicle or attach it on your body before driving;
鈥� If you have a Learner鈥檚 (L) or Novice (N) licence, you aren鈥檛 allowed to use any electronic device behind the wheel, for any purpose, even in hands-free mode;
鈥� Make sure you understand the law on how to use electronic devices while driving.
Those wishing to book the distracted driving simulator at locations in 91原创 can do so by contacting Cassap at 604-533-7472 or emailing Leanne.Cassap@icbc.com.
For all other locations, contact your local ICBC road safety co-ordinator.
miranda@langleytimes.com
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