Campaign to Stop Abbotsford Car Accidents Caused by Distracted Driving

Drivers who use hand-held electronic devices are being asked to “Think Inside the Box” as part of a distracted driving awareness campaign organized by the police department in Abbotsford. Car accident lawyers at Bronson Jones & Company LLP recently discussed what qualifies as distracted driving and the consequences of distracted driving. While distracted driving includes eating, drinking, smoking, and personal grooming, hand-held electronic devices such as smartphones have become the foremost problem in recent years. The BC government banned the use of hand-held electronic devices while driving as of January 1, 2010 and added tougher penalties that took effect June 1, 2016. Despite the toughened laws, drivers continue to use hand-held electronic devices while behind the wheel, to devastating effect. The number of distracted driving crashes is rising in BC, and now account for more than 27 per cent of all fatal car accidents in the province, with an average of 78 deaths a year. In fact, distracted driving is the second-leading cause of motor vehicle fatalities, second only to speeding. High-tech solutions to the high-tech problem There are a variety of emerging technologies designed to keep drivers from accessing their smartphones to make calls, play games, or check email and social media accounts while driving. Some portable hardware exists that can dampen the phones inside a vehicle, preventing them from being operable while a car is in motion. There are also apps that drivers can install on their phones, which then detect when someone is driving and silence that person’s incoming notifications. In an attempt to guard against the proliferation of distracted driving, ICBC has been asked to consider the feasibility of offering auto insurance discounts to drivers who agree to use technological measures to prevent their phones from being used. Abbotsford Police Department’s low tech solution The Abbotsford Police Department has come up with a low-tech solution to the problem of driving while distracted by hand-held electronics. It has produced cardboard boxes, emblazoned with their logo and the words “Think Inside the Box.” The Abbotsford Police Department is encouraging drivers to stow their smartphones and other electronic devices in the box and then put the box in the glove compartment or trunk before getting behind the wheel of their vehicle, thereby allowing them to reach their destination safely and undistracted. The Abbotsford Police Department has been handing out the boxes for free throughout September 2017, which is Distracted Driving Awareness and Prevention month in the province of BC. While Abbotsford’s “Think Inside the Box” campaign is innovative in its approach to starting a conversation and encouraging drivers to commit to road safety, there is nothing innovative about the principle it is trying to reinforce: when driving, simply put your cellphone out of your reach and reduce temptation by turning the ringer off while you are behind the wheel. The bottom line is that car accidents caused by distracted driving are very preventable. Abbotsford car accident? Lawyers at Bronson Jones & Company LLP can help If you have been injured as a result of a distracted driver in BC, Abbotsford car accident lawyers at Bronson Jones & Company can help. We have offices throughout the Lower Mainland, including an office at 300-2890 Garden Street in Abbotsford. Car accident lawyers from our plaintiffs-only firm will meet with you to provide a free initial consultation where you can discuss your case. We will explain your options so you can decide for yourself whether you need a lawyer to help you. 100 per cent of our work is representing people just like you. Legal Guidance & More, from Injury to Recovery Bronson Jones & Company LLP exclusively represents victims of motor vehicle accidents, and that’s all we do! Unlike other law firms which deal with everything from dog bites to divorce, Bronson Jones has built more than 30 years of trial experience and in negotiating fair settlements for clients injured in motor vehicle accidents. We’ve also developed an extensive network of medical and occupational specialists, therapists, rehabilitation specialists, and others to help you recover and deal with the impact of your injury on your physical health, family life, finances and future. Additionally, such reports may be essential in the development of your case. If you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle accident, call any of the 13 Bronson Jones locations in the Lower Mainland for our expertise and advice. All of our cases are handled on a contingency (percentage) basis and you don’t pay until we collect.