Study Says Plenty of Teens Have Texted While Driving

Friday, December 18, 2009 03:53 AM

VICTORIA - As B.C.'s distracted driving legislation gets set to kick in on Jan. 1, a new study on teens and distracted driving validates B.C.'s move to curb talking and texting behind the wheel.

The report entitled 'Teens and Distracted Driving' - by Washington D.C.-based Pew Research Centres Internet & American Life Project - found that of those teens aged 16-17 who own a cellphone or text regularly, more than half have talked on a cellphone while driving and one in three has texted while driving.

"This study is a good snapshot of just how rampant the problem of distracted driving is throughout North America," said Solicitor General Kash Heed . "Though this is a U.S. study, the trends among youth in both countries are very similar, and these numbers show that
strategies like our distracted driving legislation are needed to help reverse this trend before more lives are put in danger."

As well, the report found that 40 per cent of teens say they have been a passenger in a car when the driver used the cellphone in a manner that placed them or others in danger. Approximately 75 per cent of all American teens aged 12-17 own a cellphone, and 66 per cent use their phones to send or receive text messages.

The Province is targeting distracted driving with changes to the Motor Vehicle Act (MVA) that will take effect on Jan. 1, 2010. At that point, only hands-free cellphones and devices that require one touch will be permitted while driving.

Violators will face a $167 fine to be levied starting Feb. 1, 2010. If drivers are caught texting or emailing, they will receive an additional three penalty points.

Drivers in the Graduated Licensing Program (GLP) will not be permitted to use hands-free phones in addition to other prohibited activity, and will receive a $167 fine and three penalty points for any violation.

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Posted on Friday, December 18, 2009 03:53 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: MrPG on December 18 2009 8:33 AM

Apparently, common sense is not all that common.

Posted by: Vdesign on December 18 2009 8:44 AM

Many other things distract drivers, coffee and a muffin in the morning, reading maps, applying make-up, dealing with children, even knitting (funny story about that let me tell you).

Still this is a good start to get people thinking about what they are doing when they are driving.

Posted by: MrPG on December 18 2009 8:56 AM

Sure, there are lots of distractions, some minor and some major. I would say texting is a major distraction, drinking a cup of coffee is minor.

Chatting on cell phones is also a bad one. I see people all the time driving badly and just generally not paying attention while yakking on cell phones.

Posted by: gus on December 18 2009 9:18 AM

I saw a person going through a stop sign the other day who had his seabelt on, was not on the phone, was not texting, did not have a dog on his lap, was not eating a McMuffin, was not drinking a coffee, had both hands on the wheel in the 10 and 2 o'clock position.

The only thing that he may have been doing that I could not tell was have a daydream.

Daydreaming while driving should be a moving violation.

Posted by: EatsBushesShoots&Leaves on December 18 2009 11:16 AM

Good thing they had a study, otherwise we would never have known.