OTTAWA – It’s a scene that is far too familiar on roads across Canada: a cell phone sounds an alert, the driver reaches for the phone, and in the short time it takes to read the screen, a collision has occurred.
According to Transport Canada, distraction was a contributing factor in 21 per cent of fatal collisions and 27% of collisions resulting in serious injury in 2016.
Those numbers were reported at 16 and 22%, respectively, in 2006.
Experts offer the following tips to help drivers avoid distraction: put your phone on silent or on do not disturb mode; put your phone in a glove compartment, bag or even the back seat; don’t eat or groom in the car; set temperature, music and GPS before you leave; and if it’s really important, pull over.
