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Tips on avoiding driving distractions
- By ILS corp
- Published 11/1/2009
- ILSTV Stories
- Unrated
On October 26, Ontario drivers had to put their gadgets away. The province’s new law against distracted driving will prohibit, while driving, the use of any electronic device with a display screen, communication device, or entertainment device that is not firmly attached to a vehicle's dashboard. This includes MP3 players and GPS devices.
Ontario was the fourth province to enact a ban on cellphone use while driving, and the first to extend the ban to all hand-held electronic devices.
The BC government also created legislation that will ban the use of mobiles while at the wheel, with plans for this law to come into effect on January 1.
IBC says that Canada's home, car and business insurers put together a helpful tip sheet on how to avoid being a distracted driver.
The tips for avoiding distractions while driving are:
1. Eat before driving so you won't be tempted to juggle distracting snacks behind the wheel.
2. Pull over and park before using a cellphone or other hand-held electronic device.
3. Have a "driving" playlist on your MP3 player and start it playing before you set the car in motion. That way, you won't be fumbling to find a good song while driving.
4. If something falls, leave it. Never reach for an object while driving, unless it is impeding with your ability to control the car; in which case, pull over and deal with it.
5. Deal with predictable distractions before hitting the road. Check the map, adjust the seat, the climate control and the radio, and familiarize yourself with the dashboard controls, before taking the car out of park.
6. If you are driving with pets, make sure they are safely secured and in the back seat.
7. Put aside enough time to complete your grooming before you set out, so you won't have to apply make-up, comb your hair or shave while driving.
8. Listen to your GPS device; don't look at it.
9. Make all necessary wardrobe changes before you enter the car.
10. If a situation can't wait - the kids are acting up in the back seat, or you need to refer to a map or take an emergency call - pull over somewhere safe to deal with it.
Ontario was the fourth province to enact a ban on cellphone use while driving, and the first to extend the ban to all hand-held electronic devices.
The BC government also created legislation that will ban the use of mobiles while at the wheel, with plans for this law to come into effect on January 1.
IBC says that Canada's home, car and business insurers put together a helpful tip sheet on how to avoid being a distracted driver.
The tips for avoiding distractions while driving are:
1. Eat before driving so you won't be tempted to juggle distracting snacks behind the wheel.
2. Pull over and park before using a cellphone or other hand-held electronic device.
3. Have a "driving" playlist on your MP3 player and start it playing before you set the car in motion. That way, you won't be fumbling to find a good song while driving.
4. If something falls, leave it. Never reach for an object while driving, unless it is impeding with your ability to control the car; in which case, pull over and deal with it.
5. Deal with predictable distractions before hitting the road. Check the map, adjust the seat, the climate control and the radio, and familiarize yourself with the dashboard controls, before taking the car out of park.
6. If you are driving with pets, make sure they are safely secured and in the back seat.
7. Put aside enough time to complete your grooming before you set out, so you won't have to apply make-up, comb your hair or shave while driving.
8. Listen to your GPS device; don't look at it.
9. Make all necessary wardrobe changes before you enter the car.
10. If a situation can't wait - the kids are acting up in the back seat, or you need to refer to a map or take an emergency call - pull over somewhere safe to deal with it.