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Texting and driving as dangerous as drinking and driving: ICBC survey

BC police will focus enforcement on distracted drivers in September.

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A new Ipsos Reid survey conducted on behalf of the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) found 87% of respondents believe texting or emailing while driving is one of the most risky things we can do behind the wheel. In fact, 76% believe it’s just as dangerous as drinking and driving. Additionally, 65% view talking on a hand-held cellphone while driving as very risky behaviour, and 50% believe it’s just as dangerous as drinking and driving.

“Many people don’t realize that it’s also illegal to take a call or text while waiting in traffic or stopped for a red light,” said Fiona Temple, ICBC’s director of road safety. “You lose 50% of what’s going on around you when you’re talking or texting on a hand-held device. This makes you four times more likely to get in a crash.”

While the majority of survey respondents recognize the dangers, about 16% admitted they’ve talked on a hand-held cellphone while driving over the last 12 months. And about one-in-10 confessed they’ve texted or emailed on a hand-held device while driving.

Also, over 50% of those surveyed reported they see other drivers violating the restrictions on using hand-held devices “several times a day.” And 20% said they see other drivers violate the restrictions “about once a day.”

“It’s illegal and stupid to use your cellphone or text while driving. You are putting people at risk,” said chief constable Jamie Graham, traffic committee chair of the British Columbia Association of Chiefs of Police (BCACP). “Statistics show that about a quarter of all deaths in fatal crashes in our province are driver-distraction-related so police are going to continue to recommend tougher sanctions for people who think they’re above the law.”

Why do drivers still talk on a hand-held cellphone while driving? Among those who admitted such behavior, the main excuses were, “I use the speaker function” (42%), “It was a very short call” (42%), “I pulled over after answering the call” (37%) and “I was stopped at a red light,” (29%). Other reasons given included, “Not having a hands-free device” or, “It’s simply a force of habit.”