Nova Scotia RCMP is reminding motorists that in an emergency, every second counts.
No one can predict when the car beside them will drift into their lane or when the driver in front of them will slam on their brakes. However, everyone can buy themselves extra time to respond to these situations by staying focused and alert.
“If your attention is somewhere other than the road while driving, you risk losing precious seconds to respond to an emergency,” says Cst. Chad Morrison of the Nova Scotia RCMP. “You might only glance at your phone for a second, but it can take less than a second to get into a collision.”
Distracted driving is a form of impaired driving because it compromises the driver’s ability to focus on the road. Distracted driving can include behaviours such as:
- talking on the phone
- texting
- using social media
- reading
- using a GPS
- watching videos
- eating and drinking
- smoking
- grooming
- adjusting the radio
- playing extremely loud music
- driving while fatigued
In Nova Scotia, the fine for using a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle is $237.50 The RCMP will continue to target distracted drivers through enforcement in an effort to keep Nova Scotians safe on roadways.
You can’t control other peoples’ actions but you can give yourself the best shot at responding to emergencies by staying focused and alert. In an emergency, every second counts.
.
Source: Media Release