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When you hear that ping or feel your pocket vibrate, the urge to check your phone can be tough to ignore.听 But when you鈥檙e driving, is that message from your new match on Tinder -- or seeing how many reactions there are to your Instagram story -- worth a massive fine or crashing your ride?
The answer is always no. Get your head out of your apps and keep your eyes on the road.
Distracted driving is the focus of March鈥檚 Traffic Safety Spotlight, with an additional focus on drowsy driving. Police across the province will be on the lookout for drivers who aren鈥檛 giving the road their full and undistracted attention.
Distracted drivers face stiff penalties. Your first ticket will cost you $580 and four demerit points.听
But the real concern is the potential to hurt yourself or other people on the road.
鈥淚gnore the temptation to look at your phone when you鈥檙e driving,鈥� said Penny McCune, Chief Operating Officer of the Auto Fund. 鈥淲hen you鈥檝e arrived at your destination, you can doomscroll, go down a TikTok rabbit hole, or binge-watch Bridgerton to your heart鈥檚 content. But when you鈥檙e behind the wheel, driving is all you should be doing.鈥澨�
Fatigue is another factor that can keep a driver from giving the act of driving the attention it deserves.听 If you are drowsy driving and can鈥檛 stay awake,听recognize the signs听and get off the road. When tired, drivers have a slower reaction time, decreased awareness and impaired judgement.
So, here are some听helpful reminders for drivers:
Take distractions out of the equation
- Turn off your notifications, power down your phone, or put your cellphone in a place where you won鈥檛 be tempted by it.听
- Plan ahead听
- Passengers and pets should have everything they need before you hit the road.
- Select your music and program your GPS in advance. Make sure you are well rested for your journey.
Get ready before
- Driving is not an appropriate time to touch up your makeup or check your hair.
- Be rested and ready to go before you leave the driveway.
- Stop and rest. If you鈥檙e tired, pull over. If you cannot focus on the road, it鈥檚 best to take some time to rest before you carry on.
A quick glance at your phone may feel harmless, but here鈥檚 the story that really needs your attention: driver distraction and inattention causes thousands of collisions on Saskatchewan roads each year. People get hurt and some are killed in those collisions. If you keep your head out of your apps, and never drive drowsy, you can stop one of those crashes from involving you.
For more tips on avoiding driver distraction and fatigue, click听. You can also find us on听,听听补苍诲听.
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