Distracted Driving So Bad in Canada that Race Car Driver Feels Safer on Track

January 21, 2016, Kitchener, Ontario

Posted by: Robert Deutschmann, Personal Injury Lawyer

Fines and other penalties keep increasing for distracted driving in Canada but it seems few people care, or think they are going to get caught. Education campaigns continue nonstop, including here on this blog, about the dangers of distracted driving, but you don't need to watch at any intersection long before you see mobile phones being used to text, read and talk over, and over, again.

It is frankly a sad story since we know without a doubt that distracted driving is a contributing factor or cause of the majority of all accidents. And yet, we don’t' stop.

Recently Canadian race car driver Parker Thompson stated that he feels safer driving his race car full speed on the track than he does driving the speed limit on public highways since so many people are breaking the law. He says that on the track drivers are focussed on the track and their safety. The drivers know that taking their minds of the task even for a moment will endanger everyone’s life.

The real question is why are the efforts to stop this bad habit failing? People are not listening, or are simply above the law. In fact, recently a police officer stopped a driver in Ottawa using his cellphone and the driver was incredulous, saying he’d just been ticketed for cellphone use 10 minutes before and didn’t need another ticket for the same thing. During that enforcement blitz the police ticketed at least one person at every cycle of the lights where they were positioned.

Distracted driving is defined as any activity that distracts the driver from the road. By law, you can only use cell phones/entertainment devices in hands free mode unless you are calling 911 to report and emergency. It’s illegal to even have the device in your hands. You can read the MTO bulletin on what is/isn’t allowed here.

Facts:

1. About 25% of fatalities are due to distracted driving
2. Distracted driving reduces your reaction times. Most rear end crashes are due to a driver being distracted.
3. Distractions include mobile use - talking/texting, eating, fussing with the radio/heat, distractions from within the car (kids/passengers).
4. More than 20% of people admit to using a hand held cellphone while driving.

About Deutschmann Law

Deutschmann Law serves South-Western Ontario with offices in Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Woodstock, Brantford, Stratford and Ayr. The law practice of Robert Deutschmann focuses almost exclusively in personal injury and disability insurance matters. For more information, please visit www.deutschmannlaw.com or call us at 1-519-742-7774.

The opinions expressed here, while intended to provide useful information, should not be interpreted as legal recommendations or advice.