Bypass Safety Moment – Distracted Driving
Distracted Driving
You must always drive with care, attention and reasonable consideration for other road users. It is illegal for you, or any of your passengers, to perform stunts or other activities that distract, startle or interfere with other road users.
Driver inattention and distraction is responsible for 21% of all collisions. On average, it leads to 41 fatalities a year in Saskatchewan.
Doing two things at once isn’t such a big deal. We do it all the time – walking and talking, jogging and listening to music, or singing and dancing.
However, driving requires you to do more than two things at once – steering, braking, shifting gears and watching for traffic all occur at the same time. When you add distractions like eating, grooming, talking or texting on cellphones, the results can be disastrous. Drivers should devote their full attention to driving.
Some of the most common driver distractions include persons, objects or events outside the vehicle, distraction from passengers, looking for or at something in the vehicle, adjusting radio, climate or vehicle controls, smoking and eating or drinking.
Cellphones
Holding, viewing or manipulating a hand-held cellphone or mobile device is prohibited in Saskatchewan. Experienced drivers, who are no longer in the GDL, can use hands-free cellphones if they’re activated with voice commands or one-touch, and are dashboard, visor or cradle mounted.
Hands-free use of cellphones while driving is allowed for experienced drivers, including:
- devices that clip to the visor
- headsets, either wired or wireless
- voice-activated devices
- devices built into the vehicle, such as OnStar or those with Bluetooth technology
- bluetooth ear pieces
- one-touch activation of a speakerphone feature on a cellphone placed within easy reach
- making 9-1-1 calls on cellphones while driving for both new and experienced drivers
- making a call on a cellphone when parked on the side of the road, for both new and experienced drivers
Most importantly make decisions that will keep you and other motorists safe while driving.
RBDB Safety team.