Aside from having positively dreadful manners, they probably aren’t listening to a word you’re saying. Not that they don’t want to – it’s that they can’t! Multi-tasking isn’t something humans are all that good at. We’re only truly able to focus on one thing at a time.
Now imagine you’re a passenger in a car zooming down a freeway, and the person driving is checking their phone. This is less annoying than it is terrifying. In Ontario, accidents caused by distracted driving have doubled over the past 15 years, and it's estimated that every half hour, someone in Ontario is injured due to distracted driving. Yikes.
With good reason, nearly every province in Canada now has laws surrounding phone usage and other distractions while driving. If you’re caught in Ontario, you’re facing a fine of up to $1000. It would be the most expensive meme you ever sent.
A hit to your pocketbook is just the beginning, though. Some distracted driving charges carry a 30-day suspension and demerit points. Even worse is dangerous driving – a criminal offence that can include jail time of up to 14 years.
But enough with the fearmongering. All that is more than easy to avoid by exercising a little willpower. Here’s a few tips to avoid distracted driving:
