The Fort St. James Transportation Committee is rolling out a new driver education campaign.
The initiative is meant to spread awareness about the dangers of distracted driving, with all of the new drivers in town and the increasing traffic.
“We just thought it would be a nice education place to go,” said Gretchen Vogelsang, a committee member.
The pledge campaign began on Canada Day, with driver’s able to sign a pledge sheet to pay attention to the road and leave cell phones alone while driving.
According to the Canadian Automobile Association website, drivers engaged in text messaging are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash or near crash event compared to non-distracted drivers.
According to ICBC, distracted driving leads to an average of 94 deaths per year in B.C..
The District of Fort St James Office, Integris Credit Union and some other local businesses have the pledge sheets for people to sign.
Those who pledge are entered into a contest to win prizes such as hands-free devices from The Source.
The plan is “to raise awareness, because it’s still a large problem, not just here, but all over,” said Vogelsang.
