Teens urged to pay 100% attention when behind the wheel

Oct 21, 2022 | 3:13 PM

Alberta teens are being reminded that driving requires their undivided attention.

Alberta Health Services say its reminder comes in conjunction with National Teen Drive Safety Week, put on by Parachute.

Parachute was founded in 2012 through the amalgamation of four charities in the injury prevention field.

In 2020, transportation-related injuries were the third-leading cause for emergency departments and urgent care centre visits among youth, ages 15-19, in Alberta, according to Parachute.

This year’s theme focuses on distracted driving. The risk of accidents increases, even after just one second of taking your eyes off the road. Distracted driving can be:

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Visual distraction: When a driver’s eyes leave the roadway.
Manual distraction: When a driver’s hands leave the steering wheel.
Cognitive distraction: When a driver’s mind is no longer on the task at hand.
Actions — such as texting or calling while driving, talking to friends in the car, switching songs, or eating and drinking — that take a driver away from the task at hand and increase the risk of accidents and injuries on the road.

Avoid distracted driving by:

Turning your phone off or using the “do not disturb” feature while driving.
Giving your phone to a friend.
Parking safely before checking your phone or making a call.

Parents can also set good examples for their children and teens by keeping their cellphones out of reach when driving, a release points out.

National Teen Driver Safety Week runs Oct. 16-22.

by rdnewsNOW staff

Teens urged to pay 100% attention when behind the wheel

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