GWC Valves is a valve manufacturing and distribution company that is dedicated to their community. Among the causes that the company cares about and is an advocate for, texting and driving is the most predominant. Texting and driving is an issue that has surfaced since cell phones have been available to the public. The SAAQ (Société d’assurance automobile du Québec) makes it very clear on their website for drivers to understand. It is illegal to hold an interactive smart device in your hand while your car in in drive. The law states:
“No person may, while driving a road vehicle, use a hand-held device that includes a telephone function. […] [A] driver who is holding a hand-held device that includes a telephone function is presumed to be using the device” (SAAQ).
This law applies to all types of cell phones (old and new), digital tablets, digital readers, smart watches, and laptops. The penalty is up to a $100 fine and is the equivalent of 4 demerit points (SAAQ).
The Highway Safety Code is how the government is dealing with the problem explains GWC Valves. They are slowly negotiating stricter regulations as statistics for texting and driving accidents and fatalities rise. The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) has the following statistics provided on their website:
- “Drivers who text are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash or near crash event compared with non-distracted drivers (Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, 2010).
- Checking a text for 5 seconds means that at 90 km/h, you’ve travelled the length of a football field blindfolded.
- About 26% of all car crashes involve phone use, including hands-free phone use (National Safety Council).
- Estimates indicate drivers using phones look at, but fail to see, up to 50% of the information in their driving environment (National Safety Council, 2012) (CAA)”.
Although the laws above are Canadian, GWC Valves knows that they are very similar in the United States. The valve producing company is trying to advise employees and friends and family on the rules of the road including statistics so they do not text and drive. The very tempting act is especially popular amongst young people. Younger generations are attached to their phones and it is scary, especially when they get their license. Educate your child today because they are the next one causing a car accident.