Distracted driving has proliferated in the digital age.
Police say it's responsible for 25 per cent of all car crash fatalities in B.C. resulting in an average of 88 deaths per year, 12 of which are on Vancouver Island.
"Most drivers leave their phones alone but some still aren't getting the message" said Caroline Robinson, ICBC road safety coordinator. "No call or text is so important it's worth risking your life."
So in an effort to curb the bad habit, ICBC and the Oceanside RCMP are connecting with high school students to educate them on the risks of distracted driving.
Today, Ballenas and Kwalikum Secondary School students will get an opportunity to try ICBC's new driving simulator.
Students will attend an information session and learn about the risks of driving distracted prior to using the machine — a computer automated, hands-on driving tool.
The simulator shows the impact of distracted driving, especially texting while behind the wheel.
Police say it's too dangerous to demonstrate with real vehicles, but using a simulator safely shows the results of being distracted while driving.
March is Distracted Driving Awareness Month and police will be using both education and enforcement in an effort to prevent needless death and injury on our roadways.
—NEWS Staff/RCMP