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There are many different distractions we face daily, and arguably the most dangerous distractions are the ones we face while driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “distracted driving is any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, talking to people in your vehicle, fiddling with the stereo, entertainment or navigation system – anything that takes your attention away from the task of safe driving” [1].

There are three main types of distraction: visual, manual, and cognitive. A visual distraction is anything that takes your eyes off the road, a manual distraction takes your hands off the steering wheel, and a cognitive distraction takes your mind off driving [2].

In the United States in 2019, 3,142 people were killed by distracted driving, accounting for 8.5% of fatal motor vehicle crashes. One of the most widely recognized distractions is cell phone usage. Of the people who died from accidents caused by distracted driving, 422, or 1% of those accidents, involved the use of a cell phone [3]. The U.S. is attempting to lower these numbers by instituting distracted driving laws. The Governors Highway Safety Association notes that 24 US states, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have a law to prohibit all drivers from using a handheld cellphone without any other driving offense taking place, and 48 US states as well as D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands have a ban on texting for all drivers [4].

In Canada in 2016, approximately 21% (around 400) of all fatalities and 27% of serious injuries caused by road collisions were due to distracted driving [5]. Ontario alone saw 107 fatalities from distracted driving in 2017 [6]. The Canadian Automobile Association summarized the distracted driving penalties by province. Provinces penalize with fines, “Demerit Points”, and in some cases, license suspensions. Some provinces fine according to how many offenses you have incurred [7]:

• British Columbia - $543 fine, 4 Demerits, two or more infractions within one year can result in a 3–12-month suspension.
• Alberta - $287 fine, 3 Demerits.
• Saskatchewan - $580 fine, 4 Demerits (penalties rise incrementally for second and third offenses).
• Manitoba - $672 fine, 4 Demerits, 3-day and 7-day suspension for subsequent offenses.
• Ontario – 1^st Conviction: $615-1,000 fine, 3 Demerits, 3-day suspension. 2^nd Conviction: $615-2,000 fine, 6 Demerits, 7-day suspension. 3^rd (or more) Conviction: $615-3,000 fine, 6 Demerits, 30-day suspension.
• Quebec - $300-600 fine, 5 Demerits. 1^st Conviction: 3-day suspension, 2^nd Conviction: 7-day suspension, 3^rd Conviction: 30-day suspension.
• New Brunswick - $280 fine, 5 Demerits
• Nova Scotia – 1^st Conviction: $233.95, 4 Demerits. 2^nd Conviction: $348.95, 4 Demerits. Subsequent Convictions: $587.95, 4 Demerits.
• Prince Edward Island - $500-1,200 fine, 5 Demerits.
• Newfoundland and Labrador - $300-1,000 fine, 4 Demerits.
• Yukon - $500 fine, 3 Demerits
• Northwest Territories - $322-644 fine, 3 Demerits.
• Nunavut - $5,000 fine.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides the following tips on how to prevent distracted driving [8]:

• Speak up as a passenger if the driver is distracted.
• Offer to reduce distractions for the driver by assisting with navigation or other tasks.
• Do not multitask while driving. Do not adjust the radio, mirrors, eat, or use your phone.
• Turn your phone to silent, turn it off, and stow it in a place where it is out of sight.

Stay smart, stay safe, and stay attentive.

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[1] https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving

[2] https://www.cdc.gov/transportationsafety/distracted_driving/index.html

[3] https://www.iihs.org/topics/distracted-driving

[4] https://www.ghsa.org/state-laws/issues/Distracted%20Driving

[5] https://tc.canada.ca/en/road-transportation/stay-safe-when-driving/distracted-driving  

[6] http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/publications/pdfs/ontario-road-safety-annual-report-2017.pdf   

[7] https://www.caa.ca/driving-safely/distracted-driving/distracted-driving-laws-in-canada/          

[8] https://www.cdc.gov/transportationsafety/distracted_driving/index.html#prevent