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Mind the Road
Device use while driving — be it hand-held or hands-free — poses a serious risk to road safety
Patty Milligan hasn ’ t always been a model motorist . The Bon Accord resident ( and longtime AMA member ) spends much of her driving time on rural roads , and admits that typically light traffic has meant she ’ s sometimes indulged in device use while driving .
“ I ’ ve been sloppy over the years ,” she says . “ Living in a rural area , it ’ s very easy to think , ‘ No one ’ s around , what ’ s the big deal if I make a short call or send a quick text ?’”
The big deal is that driving while using mobile phones and other handheld devices is one of the most dangerous things we can do on the road . It ’ s a risk even in rural areas , where increased driving speeds mean less time to recognize and react to hazards , and greater likelihood of serious injury if a collision occurs .
According to an August 2016 CAA survey , 94 percent of members believe texting while driving is a serious threat to their personal safety ; 85 percent said the same about talking on a phone . Yet we still see drivers with devices in their hands , despite provincial prohibitions that have been in place since 2011 .
By CRaig MOy
Nowadays , many new vehicles come with a voice-activated system designed to operate your smartphone — with commands for sending emails and texts , making calls , navigating by GPS , controlling music and more . These systems help you keep both hands on the wheel , but they can still take your concentration off the road .
Extensive research , funded in part by CAA , has found that interacting with voice-activated technologies has a major impact on drivers ’ mental workload , creating a significant “ cognitive distraction .” Your brain can ’ t fully engage with the complex task of driving while also carrying on a text or voice conversation .
Be a Good Passenger
You wouldn ’ t allow a loved one to drink and drive , so let them know that using a device while at the wheel is just as dangerous . as a passenger you can also :
Even if your eyes are on the road , you ’ re actually seeing less and your ability to react to obstacles is impaired .
The study graded a range of possible distractions on a five-point scale . Texting while driving was found to be a category 4 , or maximum-risk distraction . Most voice-activated systems scored a 3 or higher . Listening to the radio scored a 1 .
The danger of cognitive distraction is compounded by the fact that it can persist for as long as 27 seconds after you ’ ve sent your message or ended your call .
“ A lot can happen on the road during that time . A traffic light could change , a pedestrian could walk across the road or another vehicle could make a sudden stop ,” says Jeff Kasbrick , AMA ’ s vicepresident of government and stakeholder relations . “ Using your phone when stopped at an intersection is just as dangerous as using it while driving . Intersections are very dangerous places for collisions . Drivers need to pay attention to what ’ s happening around them .”
So how do we convince drivers to put down their devices ? AMA believes that legislation and enforcement are important , but education is crucial — especially when it comes to future drivers . “ It ’ s very important to stop people from becoming distracted drivers before they start ,” Kasbrick says .
Milligan says her 11-year-old son has played a vital role in keeping her focused on the road . “ He ’ s been taught that , just like drinking and driving , it ’ s dangerous to use a device while driving . So not only does he make sure I ’ ve got both hands on the wheel , but now that he ’ s old enough , he can be the one to send the text saying , ‘ We ’ re on our way .’”
• Take care of the navigating
• Offer to be the designated texter
• Remind them of Alberta ’ s distracted-driving penalties — a $ 287 fine plus three demerit points , or $ 543 and six demerits if they ’ re deemed to be distracted and driving recklessly
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