Thursday, July 08, 2010

On Cell Phone While Driving Into Ditch

Cell Phone And Speed Cause Crash

A single vehicle accident yesterday morning is being attributed to cell phone usage and speed.

Police were called to the intersection of Cedar Rd and Harmac Rd at 11:30 AM for a report of a single vehicle accident. A newer model Nissan Versa, driven by a female driver, had gone off the roadway just before the Cedar Rd turn off .The vehicle went off the road way and ended up in a ditch only stopping after colliding with a BC Hydro pole. The driver was only slightly injured but the force of the impact with the pole severed the main power line.

Witnesses told police they saw the vehicle traveling west on Harmac Rd and that the driver was engaged in a conversation on her cell phone. They saw her try to make the sharp left turn onto Cedar Rd but she couldn’t negotiate it and ended up in the ditch.

Witnesses commented that the driver was still on her phone as her car was slipping off the road way and careening into the ditch. The investigating officer, satisfied the driver was using her cell phone while operating a motor vehicle, issued the 23 year old driver with a violation ticket for driving while using an electronic device, a fine that carries a $167 dollar amount. Her vehicle was then towed from the scene.


“ This accident was entirely preventable, statistics tell that you are four times more likely to be involved in an accident if you are using a cell phone. Anything that competes with your attention will impair your driving ability and increase your risk of being in a collision. Combining cell phone use with excessive speed, the number one cause for accidents, is a recipe for disaster. This young driver is very lucky to have walked away with only minor bumps and bruises” said Constable Gary, media spokesperson for the Nanaimo RCMP.

Since January 1,2010 drivers in British Columbia cannot operate a motor vehicle while using a hand held cellphone or other hand held portable devices. The following tips are provided to assist you when driving with your phone or other electronic device:

• use a hands free device
• if your phone rings, let it go to voice mail. You can also just turn your phone off entirely
• if there is someone else traveling with you allow them to answer your phone
• if your phone rings ,pull over and make your call in a safe place
• if you are driving for an extended time, try putting a voice message on your phone telling callers you are driving and cannot take calls at this time


allvoices

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