Driving Distractions Involved in 25% of B.C. Car Accidents: Report
October 21, 2009
VICTORIA — As many as 117 people die each year in B.C., and another 1,400 are hospitalized, from traffic crashes linked to distractions such as the use of cell phones or MP3 players while driving, says a report released by the B.C. government Tuesday.
"Driver distraction, of all types, is associated with approximately 25 per cent of all crashes and results in a significant cost to society in terms of a tragic loss of life, serious injuries and resulting monetary costs," reads the report done by the Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles.
The report -- which found people to be equally distracted by a hands-free cell phone as they are a hand-held unit -- comes as Solicitor-general Kash Heed is considering if B.C. should restrict or ban the use of cell phones and other electronic equipment in cars.
On Tuesday, Heed said he is asking the public for direct input on the issue and released six questions he wants people to answer between now and August 7.
The questions ask: if people think new laws should be passed; if so, what devices should be included in any restrictions, and should there be different rules for hands-free units; what penalties should be in place for people who break the law; should the law should have stricter rules for new drivers; and should be allowed for professional drivers or emergency responders.
"I'm going to listen to what people say, I'm going to combine that with the research that's out there and at the end of the day, hopefully we can reach a decision," Heed said Tuesday.
Heed refused to say what exact options he is considering, or to give a timeline for when legislation could be introduced.
Instead, he stressed the importance of people throughout B.C. being involved in the consultation.
"The main reason we are undertaking this process is to have an informed discussion," he said.
"People in British Columbia have an opportunity to look at some of the research that's out there, have an opportunity to look at what other jurisdictions are doing with respect to the problem of distracted driving," he added.
According to the report released Tuesday, an Angus Reid poll done last June found 85 per cent of people in B.C. support a ban on hand-held cell phones while driving.
The report says driver distractions of all kinds -- ranging from talking on a cell phone, to eating to some cases where people were found watching a movie while driving -- can be linked to 117 deaths each year, and about 1,400 hospitalizations.
It estimates the financial impact from these deaths and injuries to be $1 billion each year, or 0.5 per cent of B.C.'s GDP.
"Driver distraction delays reaction time and when reaction time is delayed, even for a few seconds, the consequences can be dramatic and can make the difference between life and death in the event of a crash," it said.
Earlier this month, British Columbia police chiefs called for a complete ban on the use of cellphones and other electronic devices while driving.
The British Columbia Medical Association, the Union of British Columbia Municipalities, the British Columbia Automobile Association and the Insurance Bureau of Canada have all lobbied for restrictions on cell phone use while driving, with some requests dating as far back as 2003.
Currently, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland all have laws against using a handheld cellphone while driving. Alberta, Ontario and Manitoba each have similar legislation in the process of being debated.
Some American states have outlawed handheld cellphone use, and it is now illegal to talk on the phone or send text messages while driving in Washington State.
The report also says that employers in the U.S. are being successfully sued for allowing employees to talk on cell phones while driving on company business. In some more extreme cases, it says, damages were as high as $2 million.
Vancouver Sun
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