Distracted drivers not getting the message: ICBC

A survey of B.C. drivers conducted for the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) shows that 44% of respondents believe driving is a complex task, yet 40% of those who own cellphones admit they have used hand-held devices while behind the wheel.

ICBC cited the survey, done by Ipsos Reid, as part of a public awareness campaign it recently launched with provincial police, noting that distracted driving is now the third leading cause of fatal car crashes in B.C.

“We want everyone to keep their attention on the road so they get to where they’re going safely,” Donnie Wing, ICBC’s senior vice president of corporate affairs, says in a statement. “We’re encouraging drivers to plan ahead to avoid distraction.”

As part of the campaign, police are increasing enforcement across the province throughout September.

“We see many motorists trying to hide their mobile devices from view by using them from their laps while driving,” says Chief Constable Jamie Graham, chair of the traffic safety committee of the British Columbia Association of Chiefs of Police (BCACP). “We’ll be out there this month and if you’re distracted, you won’t be able to hide it.”

ICBC is offering six free downloadable ringtones to remind drivers to not use their hand-held devices when driving. The public auto insurer also has a fact sheet of common misconceptions on distracted driving on its website (www.icbc.com).