Drivers are getting the message about British Columbia's new distracted driving laws but whether they are obeying that message is less clear, according to a recent survey conducted by the British Columbia Automobile Association

An online survey of more than 7,500 B.C. drivers conducted by the BCAA offers a good news/bad news story for provincial road safety, according to a press release from the association. The good news is that almost all drivers surveyed are aware of B.C.'s distracted driving law implemented January 1, and the vast majority of those who previously talked or texted on a hand-held phone while driving now use hands-free devices, pull over to take or make a call, or have stopped using a cellphone while driving altogether. The bad news is that survey respondents said they frequently see others continuing to drive while holding a phone to their ear, and feel the likelihood of being caught for doing so is low.

The survey was conducted online via BCAA's website and monthly eNewsletter between June 22 and July 9, with 7,576 drivers participating.

Of the two-thirds of drivers who said they talked on a cellphone while driving before the January 1 law, 84 per cent said they did so using a hand-held phone. And of those drivers who used a hand-held phone before January 1, 21 per cent said they have switched to hands-free, 35 per cent said they now pull over to make or take a call and 28 per cent said they have stopped using a phone while driving altogether. Nine per cent said they were using a hands-free device before the law and continue to do so. Only six per cent said they still talk using a hand-held phone, but most do so less than before the law.

"It appears that most B.C. drivers are getting the message that using a hand-held communications device while driving is distracting and dangerous," BCAA director of corporate communications and government relations Trace Acres said in the release. "It is particularly encouraging to see the significant number of drivers who either pull off the road to make or take a call, or are no longer using a phone at all."

On the flip-side, 77 per cent of survey respondents said they still observe other drivers talking on a hand-held phone more than once a week, and 37 per cent said they see drivers texting on a hand-held device more than once a week. In addition, three-quarters of those surveyed said they feel the chances of being caught for texting or talking on a hand-held while driving is either unlikely or very unlikely.

"Some drivers, it seems, are still willing to risk the safety of themselves and others, and risk getting caught for the sake of making a call or sending a text," said Acres. "Although the risk of getting caught for using a hand-held is perceived to be low, BCAA is confident that as more offenders are caught and word gets out, more will think twice before reaching for their hand-held device."

OTHER FINDINGS:

- Before January 1, 16 per cent of those surveyed texted while driving. After January 1, of those who previously texted while driving, 51 per cent said they no longer do so and 32 per cent said they pull over to read or send a text. 18 per cent said they continue to text while driving, but less than before.

- Reading a book or newspaper, or texting using a cellphone or PDA, were cited by survey respondents as the most dangerous driver distractions -- followed by personal grooming, talking on a hand-held phone and holding a pet in your lap.

- As for other distracting behaviours behind the wheel, 71 per cent say they see others eating or drinking more than once a week, 41 per cent say they see someone holding a pet in their lap more than once a week, and 34 per cent say they see others performing personal grooming (styling hair, shaving, applying makeup) more than once a week.

On the other hand, only two per cent of survey respondents admitted to either personal grooming or holding a pet in their lap, more than once a week.

- A majority of survey respondents think the government has done a good job of publicizing the distracted driving law -- 59 per cent said they feel the government's efforts to inform and educate drivers about the law have been effective or very effective, while 54 per cent said the government's efforts to educate drivers about the dangers of talking using a hand-held device have been effective or very effective.