Reactions to distracted driving legislation

This article continues news releases issued today by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, the Ontario Medical Association, and CAA South Central Ontario.

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************************* Backgrounder - support for the Countering Distracted Driving and Promoting Green Transportation Act, 2008

"Doctors know all too well the consequences of driving while distracted. The evidence is clear: driving while using a mobile phone is dangerous. We are pleased that Ontario is taking action to protect the lives of drivers, passengers and everyone who shares the road." - Dr. Ken Arnold, president of the Ontario Medical Association.

"Driving requires the full attention of all vehicle operators. Using hand-held devices can have tragic consequences as drivers do not have both hands on the wheel and they are not paying full attention to what they're doing. As communication devices utilized in vehicles become more common, the risk to public safety increases. This legislation will not only remind people of their driving obligations, it will also provide appropriate tools for the police when circumstances warrant enforcement." - Chief Ian Davidson, president of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police.

"There is growing evidence that the use of wireless devices while driving is a major cause of preventable injury on our roads - both here in Canada and around the world. With new wireless devices coming out on the market every day, this is a much-needed law and we applaud the government for taking action." - Bob Baker, president and CEO, SMARTRISK Canada.

"Distracted driving has been a concern to our members for a number of years. The CAA is pleased to see that our government leaders are listening to them in the proposed piece of legislation." - Kris Barnier, provincial affairs specialist, Canadian Automobile Association.

"The Ontario Provincial Police supports any legislation that will make the province's highways safer. Distractions of any kind put all motorists at risk." - Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Julian Fantino.

"Mobile technologies have dramatically increased our ability to multitask at home and work and now unfortunately in our cars. And it's happening despite clear evidence that most motor vehicle accidents are caused by driver error. Anything that takes away from one's focus on safe driving should be avoided." - François Boulanger, president and CEO, RBC General Insurance Company.

************************* Ontario's doctors welcome bill to make our roads safer

Ontario Medical Association's road safety prescription heeded in bill to ban use of hand-held devices for drivers

TORONTO - (October 28) - Ontario's doctors are encouraged by the Ministry of Transportation's introduction today of a bill to ban the use of hand-held devices while driving.

The Ontario Medical Association (OMA) has been instrumental in calling for government action on the use of cellphones by drivers.

"We know that driving while distracted is a recipe for disaster," said Dr. Ken Arnold, president of the OMA. "Unfortunately, doctors continue to see injuries, and even deaths, caused by cellphone use while driving and that's why this bill is an important one."

An OMA report, Cellular Phone Use and Driving: A Dangerous Combination, was released this September and shows that a crash is four times as likely if a cell phone has been used up to 10 minutes prior to the collision.

The OMA report also found that the use of a cellphone while driving leads to dangerous changes in drivers' behaviour.

Among these changes are:

- Change in average driving speed.

- Slower brake reaction time.

- Slower response times to traffic light changes.

- Reduced visual monitoring of mirrors and instruments, with some drivers abandoning them entirely.

According to the Ontario Road Safety Annual Report, there were 766 fatalities due to motor vehicle collisions in Ontario in 2005.

It also shows that there were 71,850 injuries due to collisions, resulting in close to 50,000 hospital days.

"Injuries in collisions caused by the use of a hand-held device could be easily preventable," said Dr. Arnold. "We're hopeful that this bill will provide drivers with the education and motivation they need to put down the distractions while driving."

To access the OMA report, please click here

************************* CAA says new cell phone legislation steers drivers in the right direction

THORNHILL, ON - (October 28) - CAA is encouraged by today's announcement at Queen's Park to introduce legislation aimed at addressing driver distraction.

"We are happy to see that the government is taking the right steps to keep our roads safer," says CAA Provincial Affairs Specialist Kris Barnier. "Our members have been raising safety concerns about the use of cell phones and other communication devices while driving for years and it looks like our leaders are listening."

In 2005, CAA helped gather the world's leading experts for a distracted driving symposium, the first of its kind.

We followed that up with a call to action for every province to bring forward distracted driving legislation.

Since then, CAA has worked with MPP Kevin Flynn on a private member's bill; it met with the premier's office and successive transportation ministers and their staff on this issue.

The CAA even ran its own campaign called "The Glare" to get the message out that driving while distracted puts lives at risk.

A decided majority of CAA members believe distraction associated with cell phones is greater than any other distraction.

Research shows that the use of electronic portable devices while driving puts people at a considerable risk for an accident or fatality.

In fact, 20 percent of all collisions can be attributed to driving distracted.

Safety should always be the number one priority on roadways.

CAA reminds motorists that everyone has a duty to eliminate all distractions while driving by changing their own behaviours.

Employers can implement policies and awareness programs in the workplace, and automobile manufacturers can focus more effort on reducing in-car driver distractions.

CAA South Central Ontario is a not-for-profit auto club offering insurance, travel and emergency road services.

There are more than 1.8 million CAA members in Ontario and 5 million members in Canada.

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