February is distracted driving month

Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter

 

Distracted driving has become a major cause of 20-30 per cent of accidents and fatalities on our roadways, which is why the RCMP and the Sheriff’s departments have proclaimed February as Distracted Driving Month.
Throughout the month of February the Alberta Integrated Traffic Unit (ITU) has been focusing its efforts on reinforcing the dangers associated with distracted driving in an attempt to help reduce fatalities and serious injury crashes.
The distracted driving legislation first came into effect on Sept. 1, 2011. Since then there have been over 60,000 charges laid for the offense. Just in 2014 there were 23,913 convictions for distracted driving, and on only one day in January of this year the Integrated Traffic Units in Southern Alberta wrote 51 tickets, one of which was for a person working on their laptop while driving.
“We need your help to make our roads and highways safer,” said Superintendent Eaton, Officer in Charge of RCMP Traffic Services in a press release.
“Don’t be a half-attentive driver because you or someone else may lose their life.”
A vehicle travelling at 100 km an hour moves at approximately 30 metres per second, which means in the three seconds you may take to glance at a cell phone, that vehicle has travelled almost 100 metres, or 270 feet.
People are being killed all across Canada every day due to distracted driving. In many communities it is taking over as the leading cause of vehicle crashes, responsible for more crashes than even impaired driving.
“Saying no to distracted driving is about saving lives,” said Superintendent Stiles, Officer in Charge of Alberta Traffic Sheriffs.
“Before you drive, put distracting devices or material out of reach because driving is a full-time job.”
For more information about the distracted driving legislation go to http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/distracteddriving.htm.