Tips for drivers

  • It can wait. No call or text is so important it’s worth risking your life. Let calls go to voicemail and ignore your text messages while driving.
  • Assign a designated texter. Ask your passengers to make or receive calls and texts for you.
  • If you can’t leave your phone alone while driving, turn it off and put it in the trunk of your car to avoid the temptation.
  • If you have to take a call, pull over if it’s safe to do so or use your phone in hands-free mode; stay focused on the road and keep the conversation brief and calm.

Tips for pedestrians and cyclists

  • Pedestrians: When you approach an intersection, please pay attention to what’s happening around you. Remove your headphones and put away your cellphone so you can see, hear and respond to keep yourself safe.
  • Cyclists: Riding in traffic is demanding so avoid distractions and never assume drivers see you. Don’t use headphones or electronic devices so you can see, hear and respond to the unexpected and keep yourself safe.

Statistics

Police reported five year average (2010-2014)

  • Distracted driving is responsible for about one quarter of all car crash fatalities in B.C.
  • Distracted driving is the second leading cause of car crash fatalities in B.C. and results in 81 deaths each year on average.
  • Distracted driving has moved ahead of impaired driving-related fatal crashes: on average, 94 deaths occur in speed-related crashes, and 78 in impaired-related crashes.

Regional statistics*:

  • Every year, on average, 27 people are killed in distracted driving-related crashes in the Lower Mainland.
  • Every year, on average, 10 people are killed in distracted driving-related crashes on Vancouver Island.
  • Every year, on average, 31 people are killed in distracted driving-related crashes in the Southern Interior.
  • Every year, on average, 15 people are killed in distracted driving-related crashes in the North Central region.

*Notes: Police data from 2010 to 2014. Distraction: where one or more of the vehicles involved had contributing factors including use of communication/video equipment, driver inattentive and driver internal/external distraction.

For further information visit www.icbc.com