A poll by Telus suggests that a third of Canadians violate distracted driving laws. In most provinces this means talking on a cell, reading or sending messages and in Ontario includes just having the device in your hand. The poll reveals a psychological impulse to answer a phone. It is behaviour as old as the earliest wall phone. There is a sense of the unknown or possibly urgent that demands an urgent answer. The information does not say how many drivers continue to engage in the most lethal form of distracted driving — reading messages and texting. Pollster Donna Ramirez says: “We as Canadians also need to take a good hard look at our habits and figure out what we can do to curb them. And whether it’s turn your phone on silent, pull over to the side of the road if you have to take an important call.” Ms. Ramirez says the study also found that although 70% of passengers felt uncomfortable riding with a distracted driver, 25% of them would not voice their concerns.
STORY FROM 2012 MAY CURE YOU
A young man and his girlfriend were exchanging sweet endearments this winter as she drove along a busy highway in Quebec. The text messages of love ended abruptly when young Emy Brochu drove her vehicle into the rear of a transport truck near Victoriaville. Now her heartbroken and forlorn boyfriend, Mathieu Fortin has posted those last sentiments on his Facebook page as a warning to all those who might fall into the same deadly trap of distracted driving. In French, Fortin says the police investigation has found that cellphone use while driving was the cause of the accident, although police have not confirmed the cause of the crash. “This conclusion was a shock because during the tragedy, I was having a conversation with her by text,” Fortin writes. “I have attached our latest texts for awareness and ask you to think twice before texting and driving.” In the texts, Fortin tells “Mme Brochu” that he loves her, to which the young woman replies “moi aussi,” and goes on to tell him that she will do what she can to make him happy. Fortin replies with a smiley face and a “moi aussi” and “XxxxxxxxxxxX.” Fortin then writes that he has a meeting at 12:30 and “would love to hear your beautiful voice before.” He wishes her a good day at school. Nearly an hour later he asks “is everything okay my love?” More than an hour after that, he writes to tell her that he is worried.
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