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By Abby Zieverink

Grande Prairie RCMP

Grande Prairie RCMP asks motorists to avoid distracted driving

Feb 8, 2022 | 6:00 AM

Grande Prairie RCMP say they continue to encounter distracted drivers.

Cst. Lindsay Ralph with the RCMP detachment in Grande Prairie stresses the importance for everyone to keep both hands on the wheel and eyes on the road when operating a motor vehicle.

“We need to be able to focus on the road conditions and our driving tasks.”

She tells EverythingGP having a cell phone in your hand or using a cell phone while driving is considered distracted driving.

“That includes texting or emailing on the device, (as well as) any other electronic devices such as laptop computers, handheld video games, cameras, video entertainment displays, portable radio players, MP3 players, or a GPS unit that is sometimes fixed to a front window or attaches to an air vent,” added Ralph.

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“If you do get a phone call or a text message you feel is very important and need to check right away, it would be important to find a safe place where you can pull your vehicle over or a parking lot, so you can park safely and then do what you need to do with your phone.”

However, the use of electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle is not the only thing considered to be distracted driving.

Ralph goes on to explain distracted driving can also include reading, writing, drawing, or personal grooming such as brushing teeth, fixing hair, shaving, or putting on makeup, while driving or while stopped at a stop sign or red light.

She adds some ways to avoid distracted driving include putting your cell phone in the back seat or trunk to avoid using it or using Bluetooth to answer the phone hands-free.

“With modern vehicles some of them have Bluetooth so if you get a phone call, you’re able to answer it hands-free or you can even dictate a text message and then you can send it off to whoever you need to send the message to.”

If there is something needing a prompt response, Ralph suggests finding a safe spot to pull over is the best thing to do, to help keep yourself and others safe on the road.

“If something is going on in your car where there might be children in there or a passenger you need to tend to, you might have animals in the vehicle, it’s important to take those extra two seconds to find a safe place to park, and then attend to whatever needs to tending to and then you can move on and get back on the road safely,” added Ralph.

“You want to make sure your hands are on the wheel, your eyes are on the road, you’re paying attention to what’s going on around you.”