聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Staff Sgt. Darren Simons of the Carlyle RCMP detachment says that the use of electronic devices by motorists is increasing and adds that this is a problem that affects drivers of all ages. 鈥淚t's not necessarily just kids,鈥� says Simons, a 26-year veteran of the force. 鈥淭hat phone is a magnet and this is something that affects drivers of all ages.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淚 still think impaired driving is one of the worst things we have going,鈥� he adds. 鈥淏ut cell phone use behind the wheel is a growing problem-and a contributor to a growing number of collisions-both minor ones and unfortunately, collisions that result in fatalities. In 2012, Saskatchewan had more traffic fatalities due to distracted driving than from impaired driving. 鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 Simons' policing career has taken him to communities in Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories and he can recount the real-life results of distracted driving by motorists using electronic devices, adding that these accidents have a tragic ripple effect throughout communities.
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淚t's even something that affects the first responders knowing someone died unnecessarily, simply because someone was texting behind the wheel,鈥� says Simons. 鈥淚n another area of Saskatchewan, I know of a truck driver who was involved in a fatal accident where a young girl died. The last thing he saw before the collision was her with her head down, texting. He's not driving truck anymore.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淲ith phones, a lot of people just don't think the law relates to them,鈥� he says. 鈥淎 guy threw his licence at me this past week, because I stopped him, driving by a police car while he was talking on his phone. He felt justified using his phone behind the wheel and he was angry that I'd interrupted his call. This person was older than I am, so it's not necessarily just kids.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 Currently, distracted driving-including cell phone use-is the number one contributing factor of all vehicle collisions in Saskatchewan. Of the two sections of the province's Traffic Safety Act that address driver distraction, one section specifically addresses driving while using a cell phone.
听听听听听听听听听听听 Legislation banning the use of hand-held cell phones became law in Saskatchewan on Jan.1, 2010. Motorists are prohibited from using hand-held cell phones to talk, text, email, or access the internet while driving. Experienced drivers can use hands-free devices (such as BlueTooth), but new drivers in the Graduated Driver's Licensing program cannot. However, the RCMP still recommends that all drivers pull safely to the side of the road to use a cell phone.
听听听听听听听听听听听 The fine for violating any part of the distracted driving law is $280 and four demerit points under SGI's Safe Driver Recognition program. And since June, 2014, second and subsequent offences (within 12 months) for using electronic equipment while driving results in an automatic seven-day vehicle impoundment.
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淭he use of electronics (while driving) is extremely dangerous,鈥� says Simons. 鈥淚t's as simple as thinking how fast your reaction time would be if someone threw an egg at your vehicle. How are you going to react to something as minor as that-or something major-when you're behind the wheel and your attention is elsewhere?鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淭here's so much going on with cell phones,鈥� he says. 鈥淎 cell phone isn't just a phone anymore. There are still calls and texts, but in addition to those things, there are emails, videos. There's so much there, with notifications coming in constantly in some cases.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淭here are so many distractions in a motor vehicle already,鈥� says Simons. 鈥淏ut with cell phones, we've got the mindset that we have to be constantly connected to work and to home. They're great for calling 911 or for calling and reporting something like a dangerous driver.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淏ut they're one of the worst pieces of technology when it comes to road safety. I really recommend that drivers spend the money and get a BlueTooth or other hands-free device,鈥� he says.
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淏ut I would prefer that if they must take that call or answer that text, that they pull over to the side of the road, put their vehicle in park and put their flashers on. As a police officer, that's the safest way to use a cell phone-for anyone on the road.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淲e've been dealing with impaired driving since vehicles were invented,鈥� adds Simons. 鈥淐ell phones are a new technology and what's different about them is that people-including drivers- feel that they need to be in constant contact, so there's almost a sense of entitlement there, as far as using phones while driving.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淏ut I would ask: 'Is it really important to answer that call or text right now?'鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淲hen you look at the potential consequences, I would say it isn't.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听
听听听听听听听听听听听
听听听听听听听听听听听
