Public Offers Comments on Distracted Driving

Monday, August 10, 2009 12:52 PM

Victoria, B.C.- Nearly 4 thousand comments and suggestions have been submitted to the Province of B.C. on the use of cell phones and other electronic devices while driving.

In all, 3,777 comments and ideas have been submitted for consideration.

On June 30, 2009, the Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles (OSMV) publicly released its discussion paper, "Addressing the Problem of Distracted Driving and its Impacts to Road Safety", as well as a short list of consultation questions for individuals to respond to.

According to the research, distraction, of all types, is associated with approximately 25 per cent of crashes. Driver distraction takes on many forms and the associated risk to public safety ranges from minimal impact to a significant impairment of a person’s ability to focus on the driving environment. However, there is no evidence that listening to the radio or a book on tape degrades driving performance, nor does talking to a passenger in the vehicle.

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Posted on Monday, August 10, 2009 12:52 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: MrPG on August 10 2009 1:16 PM

Driving is one activity that most of us do so much that it becomes routine and easy to be distracted by the littlest thing. Add cell phones (and texting!) to the equation and you have a recipe for disaster.

If people simply paid attention, there wouldn't be nearly as many accidents. I believe 25% is a very conservative number when it comes to carelessness and distraction being the cause of crashes.

Posted by: thereasonableman on August 10 2009 1:35 PM

Many people these days use their vehicle as a quasi-office while they are driving, or at the very least, do business while they are driving, even if it is only talking on the phone.

People sitting in chairs in an office, barely notice what is going on around them while they are involved in a business communication, how would they fare while driving ?

Hang on, I have to signal a turn.....

Posted by: opinionated on August 10 2009 3:29 PM

What about dogs on drivers laps??????

Posted by: Palopu on August 10 2009 3:47 PM

Why does the Government listen to and take advice from 3777 people on distractions from driving, however they can completely ignore advice from Millions of taxpayers, that they should scrap the HST.

**Whats good for General Bullmoose is good for the Country** has to be their mantra.

If you enforce the laws already on the books in regards to driving, specifically DRIVING WITHOUT DUE CARE AND ATTENTION. DANGEROUS DRIVING. ETC; then in a very short time the coffee drinking, dog lapping, telephone yapping, lipstick fixing, hair combing, hot dog eating, beer and beverage drinking drivers would smarten up.