When Tech Takes the Wheel: Distracted Driving in Niagara.

The other day, I was driving down Merrittville Highway behind a car that swerved so hard onto the shoulder that I initially thought the driver had fallen asleep. Turns out, they were glued to their phone and either scrolling or trying to answer a text.

Unfortunately, it’s become a familiar scene-drivers looking down instead of ahead, reacting to pings and pop-ups like lab rats instead of human beings going 60 km hour operating 3,000-pound machines. I've spent many hours commuting on the roads. And it’s not just teens, frankly new driver's are often more self-conscious. I've seen everyone from parents to real estate agents and even commercial truck drivers, doing the same dance at red lights. Technology is supposed to make us smarter-yet it’s making our decisions on the roads, dumber.

C&C Driver Training instructors have seen it up close. Students come in knowing how to swipe before they learn the importance of a shoulder check. We’ve all had to adapt. However now we spend just as much time teaching people how to tune out technology as we do teaching them to merge on to the QEW.

But here’s the twist: technology also holds the key to fixing this.

In-vehicle apps like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay can now limit notifications while driving. Dashcams and some cars are getting smarter with driver monitoring systems that alert you when your eyes leave the road for too long. And local parents are starting to install apps like Life360 to keep tabs on teen driving habits—not to spy, but to start a conversation. To stay connected while keeping their loved ones safe. 

It’s not about scaring people. It’s about shifting mindsets.

We don’t need more rules. We need more awareness.

So let me say this: if your business is in Niagara and you or your team drives as part of the job, it’s time to rethink your road safety policy. If you’re a parent handing over the keys, make it a habit to talk about what it means to be fully present behind the wheel. And if you’re just a citizen like me, let’s all agree—we owe ourselves and each other our attention on the road. Because the next time someone swerves, it could be you—your kid—or anyone you know, in the next lane.

And no ping is worth that.

Please also note: that in Ontario, it is against the law to use hand-held communication and electronic entertainment devices while driving. This includes cell phones, GPS devices, and other electronic devices. Hands-free use is permitted, but only for turning the device on and off. 

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