WESTLOCK – Only a second of inattention behind the wheel, whether checking a text, or fumbling to change a song, can lead to tragedy.
RCMP have distracted driving in their sights for February and want to remind folks that driving a vehicle requires “complete focus” to reduce the risk of collision and serious injury. Simply, they ask you to “keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road.”
Alberta RCMP Traffic – Westlock Unit Commander Sgt. Leigh Drinkwater, whose unit patrols the highways in and around Westlock, Barrhead, Wabasca and Slave Lake, said “just the mere act of changing a radio station” is considered distracted driving and can lead to a $300 ticket and three demerit points on your driver’s licence. In 2022, Alberta RCMP charged a total of 5,231 motorists with the offence.
Drinkwater said the numbers simply don’t lie, as the normal reaction time for most people to hit the brakes or make an evasive maneuver is 1.5 seconds. So, if you’re driving 100 km/h, you’re covering 27.7 metres per second which means that you’ve travelled 41 metres in those 1.5 seconds. Now, throw in the fact that it takes 94 metres if the “road is dry, the asphalt is in good condition and your tires are good” for a vehicle to come to a complete stop from 100 km/h and it’s clear why every second counts.
“When you’re looking down at your phone, you’re not looking where you need to be which is on the road. We’ve heard everything from ‘I was just scrolling through my music’ or ‘I was just looking at text message but I didn’t send one.’ Those all still take your attention from the road,” said Drinkwater.
Winter driving especially, said Drinkwater, requires drivers’ full attention as tricky road conditions, limited daytime hours and the possibility of more animal strikes all come into play.
“Our traffic officers have heard every excuse for why a motorist might have been distracted driving,” added Insp. Chris Romanchych, Alberta RCMP Traffic in a release. “‘I was just checking the time, I was calling my mom, my phone fell between the seats and I had to pick it up.’ But there is never a good enough reason to put yourself and those you share the road with at such risk. Don’t drive distracted.”
RCMP note that drivers are also restricted from personal grooming, reading, writing, and adjusting GPS or audio devices, while taking care of passengers or pets, and other activity that impair your ability to operate a vehicle safely, are also considered distractions.
They recommend to “set yourself up for success” and before putting your vehicle into drive, pre-set any hands-free device, GPS, radio or music so you “don’t have to worry about making any adjustments while driving.”
And if you need to text or make a call, pull over where it is safe to do so and park your vehicle as simply coming to a stop at a red light is not considered safe.
