Will Three Points Make A Difference In Distracted Driving
You would naturally think that teens and young drivers would be the major culprits in texting and talking on cell phones , but they are not.
You might want to look at the veteran driving group because in a recent survey almost half of the adults admitted to texting while driving, compared to a slightly smaller number of teens who admitted doping the same.
49 % of those surveyed say they have sent a text while behind the wheel. The DriveAlertNow study shows what many of you have already been witnessing and that is that adults have been doing a pretty job in teaching the young people riding in their vehicle that it is “A” okay to text while driving.
Adding 3 points to the fine that already exists, may be a small step in trying to prevent this kind of behaviour , but does it go far enough?
The fine of $167.00 dollars hasn’t had much effect if you watch the drivers around you , and it is frightening to see mum’s in a car texting while they have taken the time to strap their kids into the back seat. Kind of like putting a bomb in the vehicle and the driver controls the fuse.
Distracted driving is quickly surpassing drunk driving as a major cause of collisions. Will three points and a couple of hundred bucks have the effect of stopping the practice? Not likely.
The law may be in place, but as you drive down the street look over and see the driver next to you, invariably you will see someone on the phone.
I’m Meisner and that’s one man’s opinion.
Comments
I still think that taking away the distraction, (the cell phone or device) would have a better effect.
Some people would DEFINITELY not want anybody else to get ahold of their cell phone.
I have never heard of or seen the RCMP enforce the law on this topic. I feel they should take it to the next level and impound the vehicle. If you are caught texting or talking on the phone while driving you shouldn’t be on the road. Treat it as if the person was driving while impaired, because they are!
I’ve seen it enforced a couple of times. The cop was standing in the mall parking lot next to Lougheed Hwy. When the intersection light turned red, he jumped out, and started walking down the middle, between both Hwy. lanes, looking in vehicles, left & right. When he gets to the crosswalk, he just continues back to the mall parking lot with the other pedestrians. There’s another cop in the parking lot handing out the tickets.
I think you are right Give more. I know a 24 or 48 hour Cell-side suspension would capture my attention. It would be fun to see someone explain how they lost their phone for day. A week would kill me. :)
Make the fine as much as the No insurance fine – 598.00
Yeah a small fine should resurrect your loved ones after some idiot kills them while driving texting on a cell phone. Get real! $600.00 bucks! would only give them something to text about while driving away. Take the car, leave them the cell so they have a way to call a cab.Without the vehicle the only threat would be to themselves.
•Texting
•Using a cell phone or smartphone
•Eating and drinking
•Talking to passengers
•Grooming
•Reading, including maps
•Using a navigation system
•Watching a video
•Adjusting a radio, CD player, or MP3 player
But, because text messaging requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver, it is by far the most alarming distraction.
The preceding text is from a distracted driving website. There are more distractions for sure. Fatigue, boredom, mental/emotional distress, unsecured pets, etc. I would suggest we all just take the bus or taxi except those drivers suffer from some of these distractions as well.
Its a sad day indeed when sending or receiving a text is considered to be more important than safe driving.
To bad the phone companies invented such a useless toy.
I agree with you on that one Palopu.
Imorge, you are right, good fine. But, cell phone seizure for 7 days along with that would wake them up more.
Texting is dangerous for sure when you are driving ,but if you can’t talk on the phone and drive at the same time than you probley should’nt be driving at all.
This “useless toy” appears to be very addictive! Inside shopping malls and stores one regularly observes *smart* phone addicts bumping into objects and people who are busy looking at merchandise or talking to one another! Same in the food court! Mama is playing with the phone while gulping down food and the children are being paid no attention to…the toy is more important than the children!
From the article: “Distracted driving is quickly surpassing drunk driving as a major cause of collisions. Will three points and a couple of hundred bucks have the effect of stopping the practice? Not likely.”
I agree Ben. Like I said in another thread, the culture has to change. It took many years to get the message through about drinking and driving, and I think this will be much the same.
I see people all the time talking on their phones while driving. I’m sure they are aware of the implications, but they just don’t care. They go through life thinking nothing bad could ever happen to them.
Two ideas: 1. Cars should be equipped with a cellphone jamming device that is activated when the car is put into drive.. Should be easy enough?
2. Remove the steering wheel airbag, replace it with a sharp 10 inch spike aimed straight at the driver. I know I’d be paying attention.
PrinceGeorge: Too bad you couldn’t text “Mama” and tell her she just swallowed a fly!
You know what’s nice? Going into a fast food restaurant in a small town, in the middle of the afternoon, when its full of older people all talking to each other and not a SINGLE cell phone in sight!
Nothing is more important to some people than their cell phones, you hear them in line ups…just plain rude. It should be mandatory that all accidents first thing police should do is examine cell phones for times it was used…this should be mandatory. Even if you have to search for it
Ben I think its time to have another ‘poll’ on this with the results sent to whomever sets the fines or penalties.
If one third of the accidents on BC highways were caused by distracted drivers, it would be interesting to see what charges were laid against those people who caused these accidents.
Its one thing to fine someone for holding a phone while driving. Its a different thing altogether if a person causes an accident while talking on a phone.
So how many people involved in accidents while distracted were actually charged, and what were they charged with???? That is the statistic that will show if the Government is serious about enforcing the law.
Maybe ICBC should cancel insurance if distracted driving is an accident cause, the same as an impaired? A few million dollar lawsuits hit the news perhaps people will pay attention?
Never mind just taking the phone for a few hours or days, confiscate it outright. That would wake some people up given the price of iPhones these days.
I see it every single day, watching the person behind me in my rear view mirror, looking down at their lap, over and over and over again. I know they are texting and driving and am terrified that they will plow into me at the next light.
I don’t have the answers,
but I do have a couple of thoughts…
3 points although a start is not enough…
6 which goes with driving with undue care and attentions sounds better.
The fine is puny, means so little and needs to be made much higher..
I also think that ICBC should refuse to cover the costs involved in an accident caused by a texter or on cell phone user. The other party is coverd but you text and get into an incident you pay for your own vehicle repairs, and of course your insurance permiums will go up as well.
maybe not an answer but a good start …..
Taking phones and cars will never happen…too many bleading hearts out there….
Perhaps send all the comments to Minister ANTON, indicating the Central Interior has some suggestions.
I find it ironic to see RCMP officers on their cell phones well working.
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