Nearly two dozen young people gathered at a northeast go-kart track on Saturday to receive a wake-up call on the dangers of distracted driving.
As part of ‘Option 4’, an RCMP pilot project, 22 drivers under the age of 25 who had recently been caught on their cell phones while behind the wheel agreed to attend the education session at Speeders Indoor ProKarts. At the end of the event, RCMP recommended the distracted driving tickets be withdrawn.
“When we issue a ticket, a driver has three options. They can pay up, plea not-guilty, or meet with a prosecutor before court in an effort to resolve the matter – but all these options focus only on the ticket,” said RCMP Sergeant Darrin Turnbull. “ We came up with ‘Option 4’ because it isn’t just about the ticket - it's about making young people understand that taking their eyes off the road, for even a few seconds, is an extremely dangerous behaviour.”
Speakers at the event included Stephen and Carmen Battle, and their 22-year-old daughter Melody, who suffered a traumatic brain injury in May of 2013 after colliding with a road grader on her way to work in Rocky Mountain House.
“I just remember waking up at my best friend’s house and realizing that I was late for work,” recalls Melody. “I started driving to work and then decided, you know what, I have my boss’ cell phone number so why don’t I text her, why don’t I let her know that I’m going to be late?”
According to Stephen Battle, Melody’s vehicle was travelling 118 km/h when she struck a road grader. The fork of the grader went through Melody’s eye socket. Melody was airlifted to an Edmonton area hospital and, throughout her recovery, she has spent extensive time in hospitals in Calgary and Ponoka.
The collision continues to impact the lives of Melody, her parents and her brothers.
“I think my son said it best when he said ‘We all hit the back of that grader’,” said Stephen. “It changed our whole lives.”
Carmen Battle wants drivers to put their phones away while behind the wheel and to take appropriate measures if a call or message truly cannot wait. “If it’s important, pull over, stop your car and talk.”
Simon Fournier received a ticket for distracted driving in Airdrie approximately a month ago. The 20-year-old says he agreed to Option 4 to avoid paying the $300 fine.
“It’s almost like Scared Straight,” said Fournier, comparing Option 4 to the U.S. based program that placed juvenile offenders behind bars with convicts. “We all know the consequences (of distracted driving) but to see them right in front of you like that it’s definitely eye-opening.”
Melody Battle says she knows firsthand the mindset young people while using their phones on the road.
“I realize that they think it’s easy to text and drive but what could happen in the long run is so scary,” said Melody. “I’m excited that I could possibly be saving many lives and that makes me feel like a superhero.”
After hearing from the Battle family and their ‘Battle Against Distracted Driving’ campaign, the drivers were placed in go-carts where they maneuvered a course both with and without distractions to demonstrate the dangers.
