The staff at Ralph’s Radio in Vancouver and Victoria takes distracted driving solutions seriously. We want our clients to be safe at all times. Because we know that staying in touch with co-workers, family and friends is important, we have a range of solutions to help you communicate safely while behind the wheel. Let’s look at the issue of distracted driving and how we can make communication and entertainment safer for everyone.
What is Distracted Driving?
While most people associate distracted driving with talking on their cell phone, anything that takes your focus away from operating your vehicle safely is a distraction. Eating a Honey Cruller donut, adjusting your tie or finishing your makeup all take attention away from the cars and people around you.
Under the Motor Vehicle Act, Part 3.1, your first distracted driving offense will result in a $368 traffic violation ticket and four penalty points. Infractions include holding a cell phone or a media player – even if you are stopped at a red light. If you aren’t sure about what’s legal, this handy overview from RoadSafetyBC will help make everything clear.
If you happen to be munching on an Egg McMuffin on your way into work, you could be charged with careless driving. To quote the deliberately vague wording of the Motor Vehicle Act, “A person must not drive a motor vehicle on a highway without due care and attention or reasonable consideration for others.” While the fines under Section 144 of the Motor Vehicle Act start at $100, they carry six driver penalty points.
Hands-free Bluetooth Solutions
Ralph’s Radio has hands-free calling solutions starting at $70. Integrated hands-free solutions from companies like Parrot work with your factory stereo for improved audio quality. Solutions for Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi and Mini vehicles from mObridge ensure premium performance for advanced applications.
A new radio with built-in Bluetooth calling includes the ability to make a call using voice recognition technology found in modern phones. Google Voice and Siri Eyes Free integration let you send text messages by talking, and the system will read incoming messages to you.
Advanced Infotainment Technologies
For those who want to add additional features, a new multimedia receiver with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto adds voice-activated, turn-by-turn navigation. You can ask for directions to an address or business and the built-in mapping systems will plan a safe and efficient route that includes provisions for real-time traffic issues.
CarPlay and Android Auto also include entertainment options that make it easy to access music stored on your device by asking for a song title, artist or album name. You can also use streaming music services like Apple Music and Spotify or listen to a podcast.
Find Distracted Driving Solutions at Ralph’s Radio
With distracted driving resulting in more fatalities than impaired driving, Ralph’s Radio wants our clients and their families to be safe. Whether you’re upgrading your vehicle, safeguarding your son or daughter’s car or truck or retrofitting a company vehicle, we would be honoured to help develop a solution to make our roads safer for everyone. Drop by our Victoria or Vancouver locations and speak with a member of our team. You can reach us by E-MAIL anytime using our contact form for additional information.