Photo credit: Michael Babcock on Flickr

The BC Trucking Safety Council reminds us to pay attention on the roads. It’s a simple message indeed – but many people still aren’t taking note.

A recent blog post, Distracted Driving a Concern, points out that distracted driving is the third leading cause of fatal road crashes in BC.

“Don’t be afraid to pull over on side of the road to deal with distractions like answering a phone call or looking at a map,” it says.”It’s important for BC residents and trucking companies to take steps against distracted driving and keep safe.”

The RCMP has been targeting drivers who operate vehicles while using a handheld device. Police in BC have issued 105,972 violation tickets for use of handheld electronic devices since this practice was banned by law in January 2010. The fine is $167.

But fear of the fine is not enough to stop everyone. Anyone who travels around Vancouver has undoubtedly seen people texting away at the wheel. I even saw someone texting as they drove through a crosswalk recently – narrowly missing a mom pushing a baby stroller across the street.

“Twenty-five per cent of all vehicle crashes that occur annually in B.C. can be attributed to distracted driving,” reads WorkSafeBC’s Distracted Driving page. “Occupational motor vehicle incidents are the number one cause of traumatic worker deaths in British Columbia; on average, 30 workers are killed each year.”

Numbers like this show we have much work ahead, despite the hard work of safety advocates. Please remember that driving requires all your attention – and make sure your friends, family, and coworkers take heed as well.