chapter 7 — personal strategies Keeping focused  Strategies: Leave your phone alone crash fact Cellphones and other devices 101 GLP drivers are also restricted from operating hands-free  electronic devices while driving except calling 9-1-1 to report  an emergency. The greater restrictions help GLP drivers stay  focused on the road while building driving experience. This  means  no use of personal electronic devices at any-time,  including hands-free phones except calling 9-1-1 to report  an emergency.  GLP drivers who receive one ticket will have  their driving record reviewed and may face driving prohibitions. Studies show that drivers  who are talking on a  cell phone lose about  50 per cent of what is  going on around them,  visually. When you are  stopped at an intersection  or slowed in traffic, you  are still driving. Source: IIHS (Insurance  Institute of Highway  Safety). All B.C. drivers, including those in GLP, are prohibited by law from using hand-held electronic devices while driving. You may not: To help you concentrate on driving:  When you are driving, your mind and senses should be focused  only on driving. Distractions can affect your hazard perception  and your reaction time. • manually program or adjust GPS systems while driving. The  law applies whenever you are in control of the vehicle — even  when you are stopped at a red light or in bumper-to-bumper  traffic. • operate or hold hand-held music or portable gaming devices, and  • send or read emails or texts, • operate, view or hold hand-held cellphones or other  electronic communication devices, • Leave your phone alone while driving, turn it off and  put it somewhere it won’t distract you.  • No call or text is so important it’s worth risking your life.  Let calls go to voicemail and ignore your text messages  while driving. • Pull over and stop your car if you need to use your  cellphone or other electronic device.  • Pull over and look after whatever is distracting you —  check the map and figure out the best route, look for  the music you want to play, send a text message, etc.  • Assign a designated texter. Ask your passengers to  make or receive calls and texts for you. • Make a ‘text stop’ at highway rest areas, some of which  now provide free Wi-Fi.