No matter the circumstances, never use your phone to make a call or send a text message while driving. Distracted driving is extremely dangerous and often results in crashes causing death or serious injury. To emphasize the seriousness of keeping your eyes on the road, when travelling at 90 kilometres per hour, sending or reading a text message is the equivalent of driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed.
In some cases, such as an emergency or when receiving a highly important phone call, you may need to use your device as soon as possible. If so, do not immediately reach for your device. Pull your vehicle to the side of the road in a safe place such as a parking spot or wide shoulder and turn on your hazard lights. If you are on a highway, get off at the next exit and park your vehicle before checking your device. No matter how urgent the call or text message may be, it is never worth dying for.
To avoid the issue of receiving urgent calls or text messages altogether, you can download distraction-free apps on your devices, turn on do not disturb mode, or use other methods to ensure your device stays silent while you focus on the road. It is your responsibility as a driver to look out for yourself, your passengers and people sharing the road by never engaging in distracted driving. If you don’t opt to silence your device, always find a safe place to come to a full stop before addressing any calls or texts.
