4 Ways to Help You Pay Attention While Driving
In case you’ve been living in a cave or under a hole, distracted driving is one of those things that gets on the news quite frequently. And with the advent of dash cams, helmet cams, and the beautiful thing that is instantaneous social media sharing, we are all privy to front row seating of confrontations between said distracted drivers and the people they very nearly run over.
BC has recently tightened up on its penalties concerning distracted driving violations, and rightly so - fatalities related to distracted driving is the second leading cause for automobile accidents.
While no one likes to get slapped with a fine as hefty as $545, the new fines are designed to make you think twice about chatting on the phone, sending a text, taking a selfie, or catching that Pikachu while behind the wheel.
In order to prevent car crashes and keep from being a danger to yourself and other drivers on the road, here are a few tips for safe driving to ensure that you won't be distracted next time you're on the road.
1. Put Down the Phone
Refrain from picking up your cell phone to send that ‘5 second’ text. Nothing is that important that it needs to endanger the lives of you, your passengers, and others on the road. Took keep yourself from being distracted, try turning your phone on silent for the duration of your trip. If you need to respond, pull over when it's safe to text or call. You can also try designating a friend to text in lieu of yourself could also work, and keep you from getting distracted.
2. Practice Hands Free
If you do need to make an important call while you're on the road, use a hands free dialing system - most cars are now equipped with Bluetooth technologies, wired headsets, or speakerphone. Just be sure to stay aware of your surroundings while doing so and keep the conversation brief. If you have to receive a call on your device, take the time to pull over.
3. Respect Your Limitations
If you are a New, or Learner license driver, then we have bad news for you: you are not allowed to use any electronic devices behind the wheel. This also extends to using hands free devices such as headsets and speaker phones.
4. Know Your Facts
Become familiar with the laws and penalties around distracted driving in your province. BC recently increased the penalty for distracted driving to incorporate a hefty fine for those breaking the rules. So if you do decide to pull out that phone and catch a Squirtel, just know what exactly it is you have on the line should you get caught.
Distracted driving comes in various forms, whether that be physical and visual distractions such as walking pedestrians, other vehicles, adorable dogs being adorable, and obstacles in the road. They can also take the form of mental and cognitive distractions, such as spacing out while driving and driving while under the influence/when sleepy. It's crucial to be fully aware of all these possible factors that can affect your driving ability so that you won't be putting yourself or your passengers at risk.