Appalled at the stupidity of the driver next to you who is texting at the wheel? You can do something about it. Just be sure the cure isn鈥檛 worse than the ill.
Texting or talking on a cellphone while driving might seem a minor thing, but it鈥檚 the third-leading cause of fatal car crashes in sa国际传媒 after speeding and drunk driving. Despite education campaigns and ticketing blitzes, the message doesn鈥檛 seem to be getting through, though. The number of distracted-driving tickets issued annually has doubled since the practice was prohibited in 2010.
So sa国际传媒鈥檚 chiefs of police want the public to turn in distracted drivers.
鈥淐all the police, send us the photograph,鈥� said Victoria police Chief Jamie Graham, speaking for the sa国际传媒 Association of Chiefs of Police. 鈥淲e鈥檙e prepared to charge the registered owner and take them to court.鈥�
That could bring a $167 fine, a penalty the police chiefs want the province to increase.
The trouble with the chiefs鈥� plea for the public鈥檚 help, though, might be that so many drivers are texting and chatting on their phones that few will notice others doing it. It鈥檚 a widespread addiction.
Does it seem a little creepy to be snitching on your fellow travellers? It shouldn鈥檛 鈥� most of us wouldn鈥檛 hesitate to report a drunk driver. A texting driver isn鈥檛 much different. So it鈥檚 OK to report a texting driver, backed up with appropriate photos.
Just don鈥檛 take those photos while you鈥檙e driving, or else let your passenger do the shooting. Don鈥檛 be distracted by distracted drivers.
