Severe crash on Hwy 97

[Phoenix Within]

http://www.castanet.net/edition/news-st ... .htm#64212

Charron says police are aware that there is a possibility that an electronic device may have been a contributing factor in the crash

Seriously! Who has to die before people will get it through their thick skulls?!

[Oxl3y]

http://www.castanet.net/edition/news-story-64212-1-.htm#64212

Charron says police are aware that there is a possibility that an electronic device may have been a contributing factor in the crash

Seriously! Who has to die before people will get it through their thick skulls?!

I was sitting at a light yesterday beside a girl texting during the red and when the advance left came on she thought it was our green and almost drove into traffic before locking them up (even the scare didnt stop her texting though, probably an "omg I almost got in an accident lol").

[Phoenix Within]

I had one sail through a red light going on to Beaver Lake road last week. Me and the guy beside me on the highway started to go on the green, we both saw her and hit our brakes, She went sailing through the red, driving a silver Jeep-looking SUV, yakking away on her cell phone. There was a clear enough pause where she SHOULD have been able to stop given the timing.

[ScoutFan]

It's seems to be more important to many drivers that they retain the illusion that they are "good drivers" and therefore exempt from the reality that their own everyday simple, and seemingly innocent, actions (talking on the phone, texting, driving "just a few" km over the speed limit, passing on the right, passing poorly on the left, stunting, enjoying a "couple brewkies" before heading home, lighting a cigarette, changing the radio station, and simply getting distracted while driving) have the potential to actually kill another human being (themselves or a mom, sister, dad, grandfather, child, uncle, aunt, friend).

Today someone may have died because a phone call or text message was more important than the road. A few weeks back, a grandfather died because someone thought they were capable of handling the road above the speed limit.

Reduce the risk: pack the phone away while driving, stick to the limit, stay on the right so the idiots can pass you safely, refuse to drink and drive, and keep your eyes and ears open. Please pay attention to the road. And have just a little more patience.

Side note: Me, I am relearning the right shoulder check when turning right. I've always looked for pedestrians. Now I am retraining myself to also look for fast moving bikes coming up beside me (who have every right to pass me on the right before I make my turn).

[grammafreddy]

Hopefully, it is the person driving and using an electronic device who is the one who potentially may die.

Harsh? You betcha! I have no tolerance for these idiots. None. Zero. An innocent person should not be the one to pay the price of another person's stupidity.

[BobH]

This has got me wondering if they couldn't install some sort of electronic jamming device for inside the car? I realize there may be problems for gps, radios and such, but people obviously can't follow simple rules.

[mufin2125]

I agree that there is a serious problem with people using cell phones, texting or talking. The police are trying to tag these people and fine them. What kind of an idiot uses a cell phone or texting while driving? Pull over when your phone rings or ignore it. Surely the people calling you can wait until you return the call. Too many accidents are happening in our area alone let alone the rest of BC. I was horrified when I tried to go out towards Vernon, only to go to the dog park in Winfield and find myself trapped in traffic. At first I thought it was construction, at least I was hoping it was. When I saw the firetrucks redirecting traffic, I knew something horrible had happened. If you know people who use their cell phones while driving, please beg them to stop. This is close to murder if the person who dies is in the other car not the person on the cell phone. Whomever was injured or died from this tradgedy, at least let it be a lesson to others.

[dsldriver]

All that needs to be done is for the RCMP to setup a hotline or email address for people to call with license plate numbers of people text or talking while driving. Police would then go after the repeat offenders and nail them to the wall.

The biggest problem is though that the rules for what you can and can't use are too convoluted. For example, it seems to be completely fine for an RCMP officer driving a cruiser to look at his terminal is his cruiser and pay no attention to what is going on in front of him. Had two in the last 3 months go through red lights in front of me doing this. It is also ok to talk on a CB, but not a cell phone. They are both two way radios, so why is one okay and not the other??

ICBC and the province need to take a more serious look at the legislation that they have put in place.

[UltraViolet]

I agree that there is a serious problem with people using cell phones, texting or talking. The police are trying to tag these people and fine them. What kind of an idiot uses a cell phone or texting while driving?

For many cellphone users, texting is like breathing, and chatting on the phone isn't very much different.
These electronic toys appear to be addicting to a point where self control has no meaning.

The cops need to crackdown alright, but where are they????
On any given day, on a 30 minute ride around Kelowna, I see between 20-50 morons texting or chatting on their phone.

The fine needs to be amended to be $5000 and an impound, and loss of licence for one year to get the message across, as it is, the tiny fine is absolutely no deterrant, and add that to a severe lack of traffic cops, and you have what we have now.

The stupidy must end, a new law(s) must be passed, and stop these morons before innocent people get seriously hurt or killed.
Im with Gramma all the way!

I wonder what "the powers that be", are waiting for?????????????
It is absolutely sickening how things work!

[Katfish1]

The biggest problem is though that the rules for what you can and can't use are too convoluted. For example, it seems to be completely fine for an RCMP officer driving a cruiser to look at his terminal is his cruiser and pay no attention to what is going on in front of him. Had two in the last 3 months go through red lights in front of me doing this. It is also ok to talk on a CB, but not a cell phone. They are both two way radios, so why is one okay and not the other??

and looking at their computers. maybe cops are specially trained to drive while not paying attention??

[grammafreddy]

.... and he wasn't wearing his seatbelt, either.

Double dumb.

Nothin' like turning yourself into a human ping pong ball.

Distracted driving may be behind crash
by Daniel Hayduk - Story: 64212
Sep 1, 2011 / 12:30 pm

RCMP are looking into the possibility that a serious crash which snarled traffic for hours Thursday morning may have been due to distracted driving.

The two vehicle crash took place on Highway 97 north of Winfield shortly before 9 a.m., September 1.

A car and minivan collided head-on, trapping the occupant of the car and scattering debris across the highway.

"A southbound vehicle apparently lost control when he drifted into the ditch on the right hand side, over steered and swerved into oncoming traffic causing a head-on collision," says RCMP Const. Bob Charron.

Firefighters managed to extricate the 42-year-old male driver of the car, but Charron says he may not survive.

The Kelowna resident was not wearing a seat belt and suffered internal injuries.

"There is the possibility that he may pass away. It's being listed as a very serious crash -- and possibly a fatal."

The two occupants of the minivan both suffered minor injuries and have been released from hospital.

Charron says RCMP are looking into the possibility of electronic devices being a factor in the crash.

The highway was closed in both directions for approximately three hours as RCMP examined the scene.

[flamingfingers]

Magical thinking: "It won't happen to me."

[Kalvin K]

.... and he wasn't wearing his seatbelt, either.

Double dumb.

Nothin' like turning yourself into a human ping pong ball.

Whoa there.

The best I can tell, this article doesn't seem to state who crossed over the center line.

[grammafreddy]

Well, he wasn't in the minivan. The radio is saying he was driving the car and crossed over the line, hitting the minivan.

[BobH]

I agree that there is a serious problem with people using cell phones, texting or talking. The police are trying to tag these people and fine them. What kind of an idiot uses a cell phone or texting while driving?

For many cellphone users, texting is like breathing, and chatting on the phone isn't very much different.
These electronic toys appear to be addicting to a point where self control has no meaning.

The cops need to crackdown alright, but where are they????
On any given day, on a 30 minute ride around Kelowna, I see between 20-50 morons texting or chatting on their phone.

The fine needs to be amended to be $5000 and an impound, and loss of licence for one year to get the message across, as it is, the tiny fine is absolutely no deterrant, and add that to a severe lack of traffic cops, and you have what we have now.

The stupidy must end, a new law(s) must be passed, and stop these morons before innocent people get seriously hurt or killed.
Im with Gramma all the way!

I wonder what "the powers that be", are waiting for?????????????
It is absolutely sickening how things work!

Also impound their phone and forbid them from getting another for a year.