In the face of potentially severe punishment and aggressive information campaigns, Canadian drivers continue to be tempted by activities that will distract them from safely operating their car, truck or motorcycle. Unfortunately, there is a common thread among survey respondents that is akin to “It is safe when I do it, but other drivers are not as skilled as I am.”
A Forum Research survey conducted in March 2021 highlighted numerous eye-opening statistics, including:
- 25% of Canadian drivers admitted to making phone calls while driving without using other options including hands-free or Bluetooth configurations.
- 13% of Canadian drivers admitted to regularly texting or communicating via instant messaging from their phones while behind the wheel.
- 3% of the respondents admitted to watching videos on their smartphones while driving.
Taken as a whole, 26% of the survey respondents admitted to engaging in distracted driving behaviours on a regular basis. Conversely, the respondents in total considered distracted driving to be a greater cause of death than impaired driving – 47% versus 34% in the survey responses.
While electronic devices seem to lead the charge of driver distractions, countless activities exist that can pull an individual’s attention from the road or hands from the steering wheel. Eating or drinking, for example, during a long drive or morning commute can represent a cognitive, visual and manual distraction all in one. Additionally, personal grooming, reading a map or engaging in conversation with a passenger could all be dangerous driving distractions.
Accidents caused by distracted drivers can result in severe injuries such as head trauma, spinal cord damage, paralysis, crush injuries and amputation. It is wise to discuss your accident and injuries with an experienced motor vehicle accident lawyer who can provide the guidance you need.
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