Yellow lines are there to protect us on the road. Telling pedestrians where it’s safe to cross. Keeping drivers in their lanes. And making room for cyclists on bike paths. But when they’re not there—like inside your car—it’s up to you.
Draw a yellow line between yourself and your phone while driving. When you’re distracted, you have slower reaction times. In fact, you’re 3.6 times more likely to get into a crash if you’re on your phone.1
An “accident” means something unfortunate that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally. Many British Columbians believe that car “accidents” are just that. But the truth is, most crashes and collisions are predictable and preventable, especially when it comes to distracted driving.
Whether it’s a call from work that you feel just can’t wait, or you want to find the perfect song, the only thing that you should be focused on in a moving vehicle is driving. There are other vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists to watch out for, especially as the days start to get shorter and visibility becomes compromised earlier and earlier.
Let’s all do our part to prevent crashes caused by distractions:
- OFF Mode: Before turning on your vehicle, put your phone away. Don’t let
notifications take the wheel. - DND Driving: Activate your phone’s “Do Not Disturb While Driving” mode.
Silence distracting alerts. - Set & Forget: Set up your GPS, mirrors, and seats before driving. Preparation
is the key to focus.
Car crashes aren’t just “accidents”—they’re preventable. Let’s draw more yellow lines and help keep more crashes preventable.
Sources:
1. ICBC. Distracted driving. Available from https://www.icbc.com/road-safety/crashes-happen/Distracted-driving/Pages/default.aspx