As you might have heard on the news, fines for distracted driving have just gone up in Ontario. As of March 18, if you drive with a visible screen device (phone,tablet, computer, MP3 player), the fine is now $280. A big jump from $155.
We know how hard it is to sometimes keep focused on the driving and away from our mobile devices. What if it’s your son or daughter calling? What if it’s your boss and you’re under a tight deadline? Or you’re expecting that very important phone call? But what if you have your little ones in your car too? You’re responsible for them and keeping them safe.
While it’s always best to stay off your phone when you’re driving, sometimes we feel like we need to still be connected. So, how can you drive safe and with peace of mind? Here are a few reminders from our friends at Telus.
MAP OUT YOUR ROUTE BEFORE YOU START THE ENGINE: A little prep will get you where you’re going safely. If you don’t have in-vehicle hands-free GPS and must use a voice-enabled device app like Google Maps for directions, try mapping the route before you get behind the wheel.
PUT IT AWAY: If you can’t see or hear your notifications, you’re much less likely to be distracted by them. Mute it or just plain put it out of sight.
DISCONNECT: In today’s “always on” world it’s tough to not reply right away to messages. Driving is the perfect excuse for going “off the grid” — no apologies needed. People should respect your responsible decision, AND you’ll get some time to yourself. Just shut it down! Some devices can detect when you’re in the car. Set your settings that offer customized messages to your callers to let them know you’ll get back to them shortly. Actually this is useful when you’re in the spa too…just sayin’
BLUETOOTH: No passenger? Speakers that use Bluetooth technology have voice activation to make and answer quick calls by voice (IF you must) so you can keep your hands on the wheel. Note: best to pull safely and park your car and do this. Miss the call…it’s okay, call them back when you safely can.
Do you have any more tips to share?
This post was not sponsored, nor was I compensated. All opinions expressed are my own as always. Tips were provided by Telus.
Sonya, I love the first 3 ½ tips – Passengers for the ½ positive, but when you started discussing voice-to-text and bluetooth and hands free phones – you went off the road. Research is showing that voice-to-text is just as dangerous as texting – for example, people are checking the text to make sure it is correct – and hands free is not safety free. Talking on the cell phone is distracting as our minds are focused on the conversation, not the driving. People die from that just as easily as having the cell phone in our hands.
Good points David! More research is definitely needed. I’ll look into getting that and sharing that information with our readers. Do you have a contact to share? Thank you.