The final long weekend of the summer is finally here and for many Saskatchewan motorists this means road trip time.

For the safety of yourself, your passengers and the other motorists that you are sharing the road with... don't drive distracted. When you do, you put everyone's life in danger.

"CAA is reminding drivers to drive safe and please avoid distracted driving," said Christine Niemczyk, Director of Communications with CAA Saskatchewan. "Distracted driving is driving that causes the driver to not pay attention to the road. Their mind and eyes are off the road and not focussing on the task at hand of driving safely. We know that distracted driving comes in many forms. Typically it can be the use of a mobile phone for either texting, calling or surfing the net. We also know that texting and driving is the number one road safety concern for many Canadians and it has been a major concern for the past five years, according to a CAA poll."

Cell phone usage my be the main distraction for motorists, but there are many other ways that they can be distracted as well.

"There are other forms of distracted driving as well," added Niemczyk. "That includes putting on makeup, grooming, eating and drinking, tending to loose objects in the vehicle, looking out for children, passing items to passengers, extended conversations with passengers, and even playing loud music or audio. Those are all distractions, so what we are asking all motorists is to please eliminate distracted driving. If you have to have a phone with you perhaps put it away while you're driving, take it out when you've stopped for breaks, or when you can pull over to the side of the road safely, or even ask a passenger in your vehicle to be your to be your communications person and let them handle the phone or any navigation systems as well."

Texting and Driving Statistics

• Canadians say texting and driving is the number one road safety threat on the road today, according to CAA polling. It has been the number one threat for the past half-decade.
• 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/hr, 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)

Distracted Driving Statistics

• 80% of collisions and 65% of near crashes have some form of driver inattention as contributing factors. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2010)
• Driver distraction is a factor in about 4 million motor vehicle crashes in North America each year.
• 10% of fatal crashes, 18% of injury crashes, and 16% of all police-reported motor vehicle traffic crashes were distraction-affected crashes. (National Highway Safety Administration, 2015)
• Distraction was a factor in nearly 6 out of 10 moderate-to-severe teen crashes. (AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 2015)
• Almost half of all people killed in teen (15-19 years old) distraction-affected crashes were teens themselves. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2013)
• Distracted drivers are 3 times more likely to be in a crash than attentive drivers. (Alberta Transportation, 2011)

Important Safety Tips to Eliminate Distracted Driving 

Before you Drive:

• Allow plenty of travel time
• Set the GPS and/or review all maps and directions before driving
• Stow and secure loose objects
• Prepare children with everything they need before driving

While you Drive:

• Do not text, use apps, or read emails
• Let calls go to voicemail
• Do not groom
• Always keep two hands on the wheel
• Avoid eating or drinking while driving

Below are additional Labour Day long weekend safe driving tips:

• Ensure your vehicle is in good operating condition with properly inflated tires, including the spare.
• Check your vehicle’s brakes and fluid levels including motor oil and windshield washer fluids.
• Have your vehicle inspected in advance of your road trip.
• All occupants must wear their seat belts. Ensure children are properly secured and that car seats and booster seats are installed correctly.
• Carry a mobile phone or similar type of communication device with a charger for use in case of emergencies.
• Slow to 60 km/hr on Saskatchewan highways when passing working tow truck operators, emergency responders such as law enforcement and ambulance, and construction workers. Slow down when you see flashing lights. It’s a matter of life and death.
• Do not drink and drive. Appoint a designated driver or seek alternate transportation.