Learn about the New App to track Distracted Drivers

Thousands of Canadians are killed and many more injured in motor vehicle accidents every year, but we’re not entirely sure how many of these occurrences directly result from distracted driving.  Changes in legislation pertaining to hand-held devices as well as stricter law enforcement have attempted to curtain this problem, but distracted driving collisions continue to be on the rise.  Unfortunately, although many of us believe that distracted driving is a significant concern, most Canadians don’t think that they are part of the problem and need to change. This ‘disconnect’ in thinking isn’t helpful as we attempt to move towards social change that will cause people to refrain from behaviours, such as talking or texting on their phone, that take our attention from the road and all too often, result in accidents and injury.  In fact, it is now believed that distracted driving is potentially just as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and police reports appear to support that conclusion.

In September 26, a New Brunswick police officer reported to CBC News that drivers in Canada are not getting the message about the dangers of distracted driving and within minutes of going on the job, he will spot someone in the act.  Some of the behaviours that he has seen people doing while driving include shaving, putting on makeup, curling their eyelashes, reading a newspaper or a book, and eating a bowl of cereal.  The officer also reported drivers checking Facebook on their phone, writing a grocery list, and even doing their online banking.

Some people are under the impression that they can talk or text on their handheld device when they are stopped at a traffic light or while stuck in traffic; however, both these actions are illegal. It is against the law to hold your phone or digital device at any time while on the road and behind the wheel of your car.

Recently announced is a new app that allows people to log anyone they see texting, talking on the phone, eating or otherwise distracted.  The app was developed by Trauma Nova Scotia and the McGill Trauma Program.  The purpose of this app is to help better understand the circumstances under which distracted driving occurs, including how often drivers are not paying attention, the locations where distracted driving occurs, and what time of the day it often happens.

An emergency physician and the medical director of the Nova Scotia Trauma Program, Dr. Robert Green, has reported that trauma injury rates are rising in Nova Scotia, and a significant number of injuries result from distracted driving behaviours.  The latter includes people texting/talking while riding bikes, walking across the street, and driving, and the  result can be major brain trauma, other serious injuries, or even death.  As reported in a Nov 2^nd CBC News article, Dr. Green said, “We see, clinically, that distracted driving is becoming much more of a problem than it was five years ago or even one year ago.” But, he added, “the research that has been published is incomplete and we feel that there is more accurate research required.”

In order to use the app, a person can log every single vehicle that they see drive by, along with a few observations about the driver including: male/female; are they distracted and if so, how; is the vehicle moving; and is it a passenger or commercial vehicle.  Each time the observer logs a vehicle, the app records the exact location, time and date.

Hopefully, the app will enable researchers to better understand some of the circumstances for distracted driving so that future policies can be more effectively aimed at educating, policing and/or legislating to reduce this dangerous behaviour. 

Your life and that of fellow road users is too valuable to risk simply for the convenience of completing a task that can easily be delayed, or completed while parked or before driving.  Consider that a moment of inattentive driving could result in catastrophic injuries such as spinal injury or traumatic brain injury, not only to your passengers and yourself, but to pedestrians, cyclists and other road users.

Anyone who was seriously injured as a result of a negligent action, such as distracted driving, may be eligible to file a claim to compensate them for losses such as lost wages, pain and suffering, and rehabilitation expenses, that arise from their injury.  If you were injured and would like to learn more about your legal rights and the strength of your claim, call a respected member law firm for Injury Lawyers of Ontario in your community, to see how we can help get you back on your feet financially, after a motor vehicle accident injury.

Sources:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/distracted-drivers-targeted-by-new-tracking-app-1.3832529

http://www.trauma-ns.com/research-in-progress

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-distracted-driving-1.3778634