Mississauga drivers told to put their phones away while driving or snitch on them

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Published April 13, 2022 at 12:07 pm

Mississauga takes aim at distracted drivers

Mississauga drivers are being urged to put their phones down while behind the wheel and to report to police those who refuse to stop texting and driving.

City of Mississauga officials took to social media yesterday to warn of the dangers–and sometimes fatal consequences–of distracted driving.

“Put the phone down while driving!” the City posted to its Twitter page as part of a message recognizing April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month across North America. “Distracted driving is dangerous. Don’t look at devices that take your eyes (and ears) off the road.”

The tweet concludes with a plea to Mississauga drivers to report incidents of distracted driving they see to police.

The CAA says that distracted driving “is one of the largest causes of collisions, injuries and deaths” on Canada’s roads.

The organization adds that the problem stems from more than just drivers using their phones while behind the wheel.

“It can take many forms, from eating and drinking to trying to program your GPS,” the CAA says. “The problem is getting bigger. Distracted driving contributes to 21 per cent of fatal collisions every year, up from 16 per cent a decade ago. Staying safe boils down to one thing: stay focused on your driving, and whenever possible deal with distractions before you leave or after you stop.”

Several other statistics from the CAA show that:

  • 47 per cent of Canadians admit they have type out or used the voice-memo feature to send a message while driving
  • one-quarter of Canadians say they’ve seen an increase in drivers using their phones while driving
  • Canadians say texting and driving in among the biggest threats to their safety on the road

CAA officials say the problem has evolved to include things other than texting while driving.

“Music, apps, maps, messaging platforms and social media are all frequently used while driving and pose the same threat as calling or texting,” the CAA says. “While most Canadians recognize the risks of distracted driving, one in six young Canadians have admitted to driving distracted in the past.”

The CAA adds that its message is a simple one: “If you’re driving, put your phone away.”

Peel Regional Police are constantly driving that same message home to people.

They’ve pointed to recent studies that show a driver talking on a phone is four times more likely to crash than a driver focusing on the road, while drivers who are texting are eight times more likely to be involved in a collision or near-collision.

It’s estimated that distracted driving is a factor in about four million collisions in North America each year, police note.

“These statistics paint a shocking picture of just how deeply distracted driving affects our community,” Peel police said earlier.

Police remind drivers that while on the road, including when stopped in traffic or at a red light, it is illegal to:

  • use a phone or other hand-held wireless communication device to text or dial
  • use a hand-held electronic entertainment device, such as a tablet or portable gaming console
  • view display screens unrelated to driving, such as watching a video
  • program a GPS device, except by voice commands

You are allowed to use hands-free wireless communication devices with an earpiece, lapel button or Bluetooth, police add. And drivers can view GPS display screens as long as they are built into the vehicle’s dashboard or securely mounted on the dashboard.

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