MINDS ON SETTING THE STAGE. News in Review October 2014 Teacher Resource Guide DISTRACTED DRIVERS: License to Kill

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1 MINDS ON News in Review October 2014 Teacher Resource Guide DISTRACTED DRIVERS: License to Kill Getting a driver s license and a cell phone are two accomplishments that you, like many teens, may see as a rite of passage. Perhaps you feel entitled to these items or that you should acquire them since your friends seem to be getting them, too. Being able to drive a car or to reach one s friends instantly, you may just see these things as conveniences, or as a means to being more independent. But have you ever given thought to the two as a dangerous combination? Do you know about the dangers of driving while talking on your cell phone or texting? Have you or anyone you know engaged in the two activities at the same time? Are you aware of the rising incidents of distracted driving and accidents? SETTING THE STAGE What is happening out there? For decades there has been a successful campaign to make drinking and driving socially unacceptable. Spot checks by the police and stiff penalties have had a positive impact on reducing the number of drinking and driving accidents. In more recent years, however, distracting driving has become a greater danger. Ontario reported that in 2013 distracted driving resulted in 78 deaths compared to 57 due to drinking and driving. It also became clear that the perpetrators were not just teens but also experienced drivers who felt confident they could text and drive safely. What challenges does an anti-distraction and driving campaign face if not only teenagers but more experienced drivers engage in such activity? What constitutes distraction? Ever since cell phones were introduced to the mass market there have been cases of drivers becoming distracted. Researchers studying the brain discovered that as distractions increase drivers exhibit slower reaction time, scan the road less and miss vital cues such as stop signs and even pedestrians. Laws were introduced banning the use of cell phones while driving. Later texting became a major source of distracting drivers as they looked away from the road and focused on their texting keys. As a result texting was included in the list of distractions. In some jurisdictions, however, the definition of distractions expanded to include eating, grooming, and engaging in activity that reduces the driver s concentration, such as changing CDs. Will and should the new introduction of Smart wrist phones also be included in the list of distractions? Where do you draw the line? News in Review CBC Learning newsinreview.cbclearning.ca 31

2 Technology: helping or hindering? All provinces and territories, save Nunavut, have passed laws that address distracted driving. Most of the legislation bans the use of cell phones while driving but exempts hands-free devices. The rationale has been that as long as your hands are on the steering wheel, you are safe to drive. However some opponents claim that allowing hands-free phones fails to address the root cause of distraction conversation! Even using a hands-free device, they insist, we are not fully engaged in driving; we are generally more focused on the conversation than on the road. Are there others arguments that technology could contribute to distraction while we re driving? Consider GPS devices. Whether embedded in the console or mounted on the dash, these devices make us look away from the road to register the information they provide. Is this enough distraction to be dangerous? But technology could assist us in controlling our distraction. There are currently apps in the market that attempt to do so 1. Could they be the answer? DriveScribe blocks all incoming texts and phone calls while you drive. Canary sends a message to parents informing them if their child is texting or checking social media while driving. DriveSafely reads s and allows the driver to respond without touching the phone. General Motors is investigating the use of sensors in their cars to monitor your driving and issue warnings when you re distracted. Your opinion? In Toronto a woman was charged with distracted driving when she retrieved her cell phone from the floor of her car while waiting at a stop sign. She appealed the conviction. Should she have been charged? How to deal with distracted driving? Governments across the country have recognized the rising number of accidents due to distracted driving and have passed laws to discourage such behaviour. Hand Held Cell Phone Legislation in Canada 2 Prov Fine Demerits In Effect BC $167 3 Feb 2010 AB $172 None Sep 2011 SK $280 4 Jan 2010 MB $200 2 Jul 2010 ON $280 None Oct 2009 QC $115 $154 3 Apr 2008 NFLD Current $100 $400 Original $45 $180 4 Apr 2003 PEI $250 $400 3 Jan 2010 NS 1 st offence $164 2 nd offence $222 Subsequent $337 None Apr 2008 NB $ Jun 2011 YT $250 3 Apr 2011 NWT $322 3 Jan 2012 NU Nothing at this time Like any other law, enforcement is the key to success. Police officers have increased patrols and spot checks. Some forces have extended their enforcement by engaging in activities that have caused some controversy. Police in Victoria, B.C., have taken to disguising officers as panhandlers and construction workers in an effort to catch distracted drivers. They have even gotten aboard public transit to get a bird s eye view of drivers. In one campaign the Toronto police used hearses to pull over offenders in a not too subtle message about the News in Review CBC Learning Curio.ca newsinreview.cbclearning.ca 32

3 consequences of distracted driving. Other forces have tried a more positive approach. The police in Peterborough have pulled over cars whose drivers have stopped their cars to make phone calls. The police rewarded the drivers with coupons to local establishments and provided them with material promoting safe driving. Which type of enforcement do you think is more effective? Source: 1. Can smartphone apps really help reduce distracted driving accidents and catastrophic injuries in Ontario? Retrieved from Bergeron Clifford Personal Injury Lawyers: bergeronclifford.com/apps-reduce-distracted-drivingaccident-catastrophic-injuries-ontario/ 2. Distracted driving laws in Canada. Retrieved from CAA: distracteddriving.caa.ca/education/distracted-driving-lawsin-canada.php It took many years before society condemned drinking and driving and the same process may happen with distracted driving. What do you think it will take for all of us to take this issue seriously? News in Review CBC Learning Curio.ca newsinreview.cbclearning.ca 33

4 VIDEO REVIEW While viewing 1. Could banning the use of cell phones while driving actually increase the number of accidents? Explain your answer. 2. How do the penalties for drinking and driving and distracted driving differ? Should there be such a discrepancy? 3. Are hands free devices the answer to eliminating distracted driving accidents? Why or why not? 4. How are provinces addressing the growing number of distracted driving accidents? 5. What law is New Jersey introducing to deal with distracted driving? Why might this law be difficult to enforce? News in Review CBC Learning Curio.ca newsinreview.cbclearning.ca 34

5 POST VIEWING ACTIVITIES 1. How well could you drive if you were texting? You can answer that question by taking the Manitoba Public Insurance simulator exercise. You will need a smartphone, computer and Internet connection. Follow the online instructions and try the simulation. yourlastwords.ca/pages/about?locale=en a) How did you do? b) Did you notice any limitations in taking the simulation that might bring into question its reliability? 2. In March 2013, filmmaker Werner Herzog released a film on social media about the terrible consequences of texting and driving. There are four personal stories included. Take time to listen to at least the first two episodes. youtube.com/watch?v=_bqfkrwdfz0 a) What do the stories have in common? b) Is this documentary an effective way to combat texting and driving? Explain. 3. Many governments have passed laws banning texting and other distractions while driving, but what constitutes distraction? Examine the chart of potential distractions (on the following page) and indicate whether or not you feel each activity should be banned. Provide a rationale for your decision. Before you begin, what criteria would you use to determine if a distraction should be banned? News in Review CBC Learning Curio.ca newsinreview.cbclearning.ca 35

6 Potential Distractions while Driving Distraction Ban? (Yes / No) Rationale Texting Phone calling Eating Changing CDs Smoking Using a SmartWatch Listening to the radio Personal grooming Reading Using car s GPS Using hands free device 4. Considering the strong evidence that exists regarding the perils of texting and driving, why do you feel so many people still engage in the practice? How can you get an effective message across to discourage such actions? Work with a partner or group to design an effective campaign discouraging texting and driving. Use the following format to help you design your promotion. Who is the intended audience? What will be the focus of your message? What media will you use to get your message across? What information would you include in your campaign? What obstacles might you face in your campaign? How would you overcome these obstacles? Provide an outline of your campaign and if time permits take your campaign to your intended audience. News in Review CBC Learning Curio.ca newsinreview.cbclearning.ca 36