DISTRACTED DRIVING BASICS
This term refers to any activity that takes your attention away from driving.
What is distracted driving?
In Alberta, using a handheld device while driving, can cost you how much in a fine?
What is $390.00
Distracted driving is a leading cause of these types of incidents on Canadian roads.
What are crashes or collisions?
In Alberta, you can use a handheld device while driving to call 911?
What is Reality? (Calling Emergency services, such as 911 with a handheld cell phone is allowed under the Alberta Law)
This type of collision is more likely when a driver is distracted and fails to notice stopped or slowing traffic ahead.
What is a rear-end collision?
Name one of the three main types of distraction.
What is visual, manual, or cognitive distraction?
True or False: You may legally text at a red light in Alberta.
What is false?
True or False: In some years, distracted driving causes more fatalities than impaired driving in Canada.
What is true?
In Alberta, using your phone on speaker or with a single touch (like answering a call is allowed while driving).
What is reality
Distracted driving is a factor in many collisions because it slows reaction time when this happens unexpectedly on the road.
What is a hazard or sudden change in traffic conditions?
This type of distraction occurs when your eyes leave the road.
What is visual distraction? (Taking your eyes off the road. eg. looking at GPS, your phone, looking outside of your car)
In Alberta accumulating 15 or more demerit points can lead to this consequence for your driver's license.
What is a license suspension. (New drivers are suspended at 8 points).
This distracted behavior significantly increases crash risk and is common nationwide.
What is texting while driving?
In Alberta, you can use your phone if you are just checking GPS directions while driving?
What is Myth. (a GPS navigation system must be affixed to the vehicle and programmed before you begin driving)
In Alberta, distracted driving accounts for roughly this proportion of all road fatalities, making it one of the province’s leading causes of death on the road. (Percentage)
What is about 25% of road fatalities?
This type of distraction happens when your hands leave the steering wheel.
What is manual distraction? (Taking your hands off the wheels eg. texting, eating, adjusting radio or car settings, reaching for something or doing your makeup)
How many demerit points are issued in Alberta for distracted driving?
What is 3 demerit points?
Looking away from the road for just this many seconds at highway speed can mean travelling the length of a football field.
What is 5 seconds?
Glancing inside the vehicle (radio, controls, cup holder) is less dangerous than looking outside the vehicle while driving.
What is Myth?
In Alberta, distracted driving is linked to tens of thousands of collisions annually, with estimates exceeding this number.
What is 35,000 collisions per year?
This type of distraction occurs when your mind is not focused on driving, even if your eyes and hands are.
What is cognitive distraction? (Taking your mind off driving eg. daydreaming, talking to passengers, or being lost in thought)
In Alberta, distracted driving is treated by insurance companies the same as this offence and can remain on your insurance record for up to 10 years.
What is driving under the influence (DUI)?
(as well as stunt driving, or criminal code convictions)
This age group is statistically overrepresented in distracted-driving-related collisions in Canada.
What are young drivers (or new drivers)?
In Alberta, eating food and drinking beverages (non- alcoholic) while driving is considered distracted driving and carries the same penalties as using a phone?
What is Myth?
This outcome is most likely in high-speed crashes where a distracted driver fails to brake or swerve in time.
What is a fatal collision (death)?