A CAA Saskatchewan poll finds an overwhelming majority of drivers in the Prairies think texting and driving is getting worse, despite moves by law enforcement to crack down and extensive public education efforts.
More than four out of five drivers (83 per cent) believe texting while driving is a bigger problem today than it was three years ago. “Despite anti-texting and driving laws in all provinces across the country and several years of public education campaigns, Canadians still don’t seem to be getting the message,” said Fred Titanich, president and CEO of CAA Saskatchewan.
Texting and driving is tied with drunk driving as the No. 1 road safety concern among drivers, according to CAA’s poll. A whopping 96 per cent say that drivers who text and drive are a threat to their personal safety on the road. CAA has been tracking what worries residents when it comes to road safety for several years. Texting while driving broke into the top 10 list of concerns in 2011. Almost seven years later, views on the danger of texting and driving continue to get worse. Findings are based on a CAA poll of 607 residents in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba carried out in November. Drivers also believe other forms of distraction are increasingly an issue.
To become an undistracted driver, CAA has prepared a few safety reminders: Before you drive, allow plenty of travel time; stow and secure loose objects; prepare children with everything they need before driving; when safe to do so, park the vehicle to address any required or immediate attention. While you drive, keep two hands on the wheel at all times; avoid eating or drinking while driving; do not groom; do not text, use apps, or read emails.
Some distractions may be unavoidable, but eliminating preventable distractions before getting behind the wheel not only makes driving less stressful, but it can also save lives.
