What Are You Doing Behind the Wheel
What Are You Doing Behind The Wheel?
Cell phones are NOT a thing of the past; they are a very large part of the future and our everyday world right now. Albertans everywhere use cell phones as a means to do business, coordinate pick up times for their kid’s soccer games, navigate their way around cities and rural areas, check their latest tweet and facebook messages, and to listen to music.
It’s no wonder that distracted driving became such a growing concern over the last 20 years with the high level of technology advancements. This ‘technology high’ mixed with the need to be connected to work and home at all times, has created a society that identifies driving as an unproductive and second nature task. Driving has grown to become a time where we can multi-task and accomplish more in less time.
The result is that we have too many drivers focusing on secondary tasks when, in fact, they should be focusing on the safety of their driving.
Here at Paragon Performance Training we mean Safety. As you are likely aware, September 1st marked the release of the new distracted driver’s law for Albertans and is now being highly enforced.
What most people don’t know is that it’s not just about using cell phones, there is a collection of other acts you can be charged a hefty $172.00 fine with if you’re caught doing them.
Here is a list of what you CAN NOT do as identified under the distracted driver’s law from the government of Alberta. (http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/DistractedDriving.htm)
- Using hand-held cell phone for talking, texting or e-mailing
- Using electronic devices like laptop computers, video games, cameras, video entertainment displays and programming portable audio players (eg., MP3 players)
- Entering information on GPS units
- Reading printed material in the vehicle while driving
- Writing, printing or sketching, and
- Personal grooming like combing hair, applying makeup or brushing your teeth
So, you could be charged if you are:
- Driving and holding a cell phone or PDA, even if the phone is powered off.
- Driving and flossing your teeth, putting on makeup, curling your hair, clipping your nails, or shaving.
- Driving regularly and your performance appear unaffected, but you are engaged in any of the identified activities.
Now, although there are many things that you cannot do, the government is not talking about penalizing drivers for taking a sip of coffee, or chatting with their co-passenger. Their focus is on drivers who decide to put themselves and others at risk by watching movies, browsing for ‘apps’, applying makeup and shaving all while trying to navigate through traffic.
For a full list of what you CAN do as identified under the distracted driver’s law from the government of Alberta, visit the government website at:
http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/DistractedDriving.htm, and go to their Frequently Asked Questions section at the bottom of the page.
In the meantime, here is a brief example of a few things you CAN still do while behind the wheel:
- You can use a cell in hands free mode.
- You can use an earphone, as long as it is used in hands-free, or voice-activated manner.
- You can still drink beverages and eat while driving.We wanted make sure you were also educated on these Top Three Questions when it comes to the new Distracted Driver Law.
Will I lose any demerit points if I get pulled over and charged?
When it comes to losing points, the answer is No. The government feels that the dollar fine will encourage drivers to focus on their driving. However, drivers that exhibit what is deemed to be more serious behaviours could be charged with ‘driving carelessly’ under the Traffic Safety Act. The penalty for this offence carries six demerit points and a fine of $402.00.
Will this go onto my drivers abstract?
If you get a ticket, it will be issued to the driver of the vehicle and not the registered owner. At this time, the convictions will not appear on driver’s abstracts that are publicly available through registry offices.
Can I still have my pet in the car with me?
In situations where the driver becomes too involved with their pet, police could reasonably argue that the distraction is comparable to the specifically banned activities of reading, writing and grooming and lay a charge. There are other existing laws under the Traffic Safety Act when it comes to pets in the vehicle, so be sure to go to: http://www.qp.alberta.ca/documents/Acts/t06.pdf and familiarize yourself before September 1st.
It is always best to drive in a reasonable, practical way while keeping your focus on driving and following the rules of the road. Enjoy your drive, play some relaxing music to help lower your stress, plan your trip before you leave, and drive safe.
Written by Meg McKerroll
Paragon Performance Training Team
August 2011
