The month of March signifies the distracted driving campaign initialized by the province of B.C., which started in Richmond last Friday in partnership with ICBC, demonstrating their efforts to have all drivers on the road undistracted and complying with road safety regulations to ensure preventative measures.

B次元官网网址淥f course the B次元官网网址榣eave your phone alone campaignB次元官网网址� has been pushed from ICBC and all of our partners,B次元官网网址� Cpl. Ronda Rempel, media relations officer for B.C. RCMP Traffic Services told The Hope Standard. B次元官网网址淎nd I think whatB次元官网网址檚 important to let the public know is that sadly, 88 people die per year in B.C. because of distracted driving.B次元官网网址�

Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of collisions and fatalities on the roadway.

B次元官网网址淥ut of the 88 lives lives, thirty, are from the Lower Mainland B次元官网网址� so weB次元官网网址檙e obviously trying to get the message out to the public that distracted driving is our second in leading causes for fatal collisions in the province, just behind speed and narrowly ahead of impaired driving,B次元官网网址� she said.

In an effort to thwart the ongoing technological battle with smart phones, certain individuals are using alternative precautionary methods.

B次元官网网址淚 think everyone has good intentions and we have some people putting phones in their trunks, or turning them off B次元官网网址� but we know that weB次元官网网址檙e all pretty much addicted to our smart phones and thatB次元官网网址檚 causing a huge problem on our roadways,B次元官网网址� said Rempel.

The officials are asking people to think outside of the box and suggesting the populace start searching for distracted driving apps.

B次元官网网址淲e are actually saying B次元官网网址� use technology to save you from technology,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 quite a few apps out there right now, some of them are free, which we think is absolutely an initiative on behalf of the companies B次元官网网址� we are encouraging people to seek them out.B次元官网网址�

The innovative new apps have auto replies, so if you have your phone on, it can determine that you are driving and send an auto reply if someone calls or texts, while you are in transit.

B次元官网网址淚f youB次元官网网址檙e going to have your phone with you and you canB次元官网网址檛 part with it, you need to think of other ways to keep yourself and other people on the road ways safe B次元官网网址� so we are encouraging people to do that.B次元官网网址�

Despite significant fines for infractions, motorists have not been deterred.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址� a $160 fine for using an electronic device and thereB次元官网网址檚 three points associated with that B次元官网网址� and we all know that points affect our insurance B次元官网网址� because people arenB次元官网网址檛 getting the message we do think that over time, weB次元官网网址檙e going to have to look at other avenues to get people to change their behaviours,B次元官网网址� Rempel said.

Distracted driving is narrowly ahead of impaired driving when it comes to fatalities, and Rempel cautions the public to be wary of connecting with others while in transit and to keep all hands on the wheel, eyes on the road and to just drive.

B次元官网网址淒onB次元官网网址檛 text your loved one to death and what I mean by that is if you know your loved one is on the road, donB次元官网网址檛 send a text message and donB次元官网网址檛 call B次元官网网址� driving is a complex enough task in itself with pedestrians, cyclists, children and pets in the car. ThereB次元官网网址檚 lots of other distractions that we have to try and manage fi rst.B次元官网网址�