The province, police, ICBC and WorkSafeBC are reminding drivers of the dangers of distracted driving, focusing on raising awareness among employers and their staff, as part of September's distracted driving campaign.
In B.C., crashes are the number one cause of work-related deaths, according to WorkSafeBC statistics. On average, approximately 30 workers in B.C. are killed each year while driving, and distracted driving, such as cellphone use, is a key factor in these crashes.
"As government, we have established aggressive legislation and police have done a good job of enforcement but really this is about your friends, family and colleagues, so set an example," said Shirley Bond, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General in a news release. "We know these deaths and injuries are preventable. Let voicemail do its job or pull over. Safe driving requires your full attention."
A recent Ipsos Reid survey conducted on behalf of ICBC revealed that only nine per cent of drivers think that commercial drivers are better than the general public at following B.C.'s new restrictions on the use of hand-held electronic devices while driving.
"Workers and employers in B.C. need to take steps to eliminate any risks or distractions and consider that when you're behind the wheel, driving is your only job," added Diana Miles, senior vice president of worker and employer services, WorkSafeBC.
To help workers and employers, new materials are now available to download on ?WorkSafeBC.com, including a sample safe driving policy, tip sheets for employers, supervisors and workers, as well as a new video to help drive home the message even further.
For more tips on cell phone use while driving, and to see the new preventable.ca TV ad on distracted driving, go to drivecellsafe.ca.
-Submitted
