Mobile phone use often blamed.
Police in three Canadian provinces claim that fatal accidents caused by distracted driving now surpass impaired driving deaths. They say talking or texting on mobile phones is the main cause..
Other forms of distracted driving, such as playing video games or eating can be dangerous, too, according to RCMP spokesman Sgt. Paul Dawson. “I recall seeing someone eating a bowl of cereal once while on the way to work,” Dawson said.
In east coast Nova Scotia, distracted driving is now listed as the number one cause of traffic deaths. Saskatchewan reported that 57 deaths last years were due to distracted driving, while 54 were due to drinking and driving.
targeting drivers looking into their
laps to read messages and telling
them “Crotches Kill.”
© Gov’t of Alberta
In Ontario police say distracted driving has resulted in more collisions than drinking and driving, and for several years has been consistently blamed for about 30% of highway accidents.
An Alberta government campaign earlier this year involved a series of “Crotches Kill” posters showing smiling drivers staring into their laps, their faces illuminated by the blue glow of their cellphones.
“We know what you’re doing down there,” the poster says.
However, distracted driving can include everything from eating a take-out burger to a dog jumping around the vehicle.
In its Ontario-only campaign against distracted driving, the Canadian Automobile Association takes a different tack. ts focus is broadened beyond cellphones.
“The campaign is saying it’s not just about technology,” said Teresa DiFelice, the director of communications for the CAA’s South Central Ontario chapter.
“Reaching over for something, putting on makeup, shaving, reading the newspaper, trying to reach for things for a child: these are all forms of distraction.”
Nonetheless it is often difficult to determine that a fatal accident was caused by some distraction, whether mobile phone use, or something else.
It should be noted that since 2008, every province and territory in Canada, with the exception of Nunavut, has either banned or severely restricted mobile phone use be drivers..
Province/Territory What is banned? Fines
B.C. Hand-held devices, plus novice drivers using hands-free equipment $167
Alberta Holding or viewing a communications device, reading, writing and any other distraction $172
Saskatchewan Hand-held communication equipment, plus novice drivers going hands-free $280
Manitoba Hand-held electronic devices $199.80
Ontario Hand-held wireless communication devices $155*
Quebec Hand-held devices that include a phone function, plus using it hands-free $115-154
N.B. Hand-held electronic devices $172.50
Nova Scotia Hand-held cell phones, plus text messaging on any device $164-$337
P.E.I. Hand-held wireless communication devices $250-400
N.L. Hand-held cell phones, plus text messaging on any device $100-400
Yukon Hand-held devices for talking, texting and emailing, plus graduated licence holders can’t go hands-free $250
N.W.T. Hand-held electronic devices $100
Nunavut None —
(with files from CBC)
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