Send this page to someone via email

The Vancouver Police say they do not want any photos of real people distracted while driving – only drawings and slogans to enter the contest.

Distracted driving is the third leading cause of motor vehicle fatalities in B.C., behind impaired driving and speeding, and it is the cause of 25 per cent of fatal car crashes involving youth aged 16 to 21 years old.

The Vancouver Police Department, along with the advertising agency, DDB Canada, have now created a campaign raising awareness around the dangers of distracted driving – called stupid combinations.

The VPD say on average every year, 31 people die in the Lower Mainland in distracted driving related crashes, and 800 distracted driving tickets are written each month, in Vancouver alone.

It is not just about using a cell phone however. There are many things that can cause you to become distracted while driving.

Story continues below advertisement

Here are some real life examples provided by the VPD:

A VPD officer pulled over a driver who was using a cell phone while driving. The ticket was issued quickly and the driver pulled away, picking up their cell phone once again. He was subsequently pulled over again and issued another ticket — two tickets in three minutes.

Ten police motorcycles on a group ride pulled up alongside a car at a red light. The driver looked over at the officers, who saw that she was texting on her cell phone. They were shocked when she just continued to text.

Some drivers have come up with their own solution for using their cell phone while driving: taping their phone to the steering wheel, tucking it under their hat or wedging it in their clothing. None of these would fit the definition of “hands-free.”

One driver was ticketed for balancing his full-size laptop on the steering wheel and driver’s door while driving.

An officer pulled over a driver for reading a paperback propped on their steering wheel while driving.

One creative motorist was pulled over by a traffic officer who was curious about why the man was talking into his coffee cup. It turned out the cup had an opening cut out of it and his cell phone was inside.

And the winner has to be the driver observed wearing full headphones, holding a sandwich in one hand and watching a dash-level television screen, all while driving down a major Vancouver street.

As part of their campaign, the VPD is launching a hash tag contest using using Twitter and Instagram. Everyone who hash tags #stupidcombos has a chance of winning a police ride-a-long. They would like to see slogans and drawings, not photos of people, of what you think is a stupid combo.

Story continues below advertisement

Watch: Distracted driver tells his story