VicPD has launched an educational pilot program that aims to reduce distracted driving.
Although there have been increased fines and penalty points B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 now $543 and four demerit points for the first infraction B次元官网网址� fatalities related to distracted driving are still higher than from impaired driving.
VicPD teamed up with Restorative Justice Victoria, ICBC, RoadSafetyBC and the Traffic Injury Research Foundation to offer distracted driving education to first-time offenders ticketed during a two-day campaign last month.
Those caught were given the option of attending the Drop it and Drive seminar or accepting the hefty fine and demerit points B次元官网网址� 32 of 42 ticketed drivers attended.
The groups hope their efforts lead to a provincewide education campaign.
VicPD Const. Sean Millard, who has been involved with the new program, hopes an educational approach can help drivers understand how dangerous distracted driving can be, and change their attitudes.
B次元官网网址淲hen people came in, they came with their arms crossed, their body language was cold and they were shut down to opening up and participating,B次元官网网址� he said.
But as the seminar continued, he said, he could see a shift happening.
B次元官网网址淚 could see the impact on people. They could visually see what the consequences were B次元官网网址thinking] B次元官网网址榳ait a second, is this really worth it?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
People often donB次元官网网址檛 understand what distracted driving is, Millard said.
Comments made by seminar participants indicated a belief that texting at a red light or moving to plug in a phone while driving was acceptable, he said. And the temptation people feel to check their phones can be irresistible.
B次元官网网址淚 think the sound of a phone going off, people just canB次元官网网址檛 not look at it. TheyB次元官网网址檙e afraid of missing that two seconds in life that someone may have sent an important message,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪ometimes I think people think [the messages] are more important than they are.B次元官网网址�
But itB次元官网网址檚 not just about texting and driving, he said.
B次元官网网址淒istracted driving is [also] when your three-year-old kid is throwing a fit in the back seat and you turn around to soothe them and take your eyes off the road and get in a rear-end collision.B次元官网网址�
Drop it and Drive was presented by Karen Bowman, a civilian whoB次元官网网址檇 been hit by distracted drivers twice, including one incident where her daughter was injured.
The Traffic Injury Research Foundation will follow up with participants after six and 12 months through anonymous survey, to determine whether their attitudes and actions have changed. VicPD will also be checking their databases to see if the drivers re-offend.
