| « Unreasonable delay (Section 11(b) of the Charter of Rights) | Pedal powered Flintstone car driver gets his traffic ticket dismissed » |
Ontario to restrict cellphone use by drivers
10/28/08
Ontario to restrict cellphone use by drivers
Facebook 
Del.icio.us 
Reddit 
Reddit 
Mister-Wong
MixxThe Ontario government tabled legislation that will ban text messaging and emailing while driving and force motorists to use hands-free equipment when making calls on their cellphones.
The proposed bill will include regulations for the use of all electronic devices, including BlackBerrys and Global Positioning Systems, while driving.
Transportation Minister Jim Bradley told reporters Tuesday that Premier Dalton McGuinty asked him to make the roads safer, and that's what he intends to do.
Follow up:
"The premier (asked) me to look at that look at what's been done in other jurisdictions ... to see what our safety partners have to say,"
The Liberal government consulted police and the Insurance Bureau of Canada before drafting the legislation, Bradley said.
If caught by police, drivers will face fines of at least $500 and demerit points.
Newfoundland, Quebec and Nova Scotia have all recently introduced new guidelines to prevent drivers from using hand-held devices, while the governments of Manitoba and Prince Edward Island are considering similar legislation.
Cellphone bans for drivers are already in place in about 50 countries, including Australia, China, France, Kenya and Slovenia.
The Ontario Medical Association warns that talking on a cellphone while driving increases a motorist's risk of getting into an accident.
Hands-free devices, such as headsets, still leave drivers distracted and therefore do not lower their accident risk, according to the OMA.
Contrary view
Despite the growing popularity of cellphone bans for motorists, the Canada Safety Council opposes the proposed new legislation.
Spokesman Emile Therien acknowledged Tuesday that talking on the phone is a distraction while driving.
However, he argued that most cellphone users would not comply with the law, which would in turn make it hard for police to enforce.
"I think it's just a case of feel-good legislation," Therien said during an interview on CTV Newsnet. "It makes people feel good but it really doesn't deliver tangible safety benefits."
Therien said that reckless drivers can already be charged and face fines and demerit points under the Highway Traffic Safety Act.
Therien also said a public awareness campaign would best inform motorists of the potential dangers of talking and texting while driving.
While nine-in-10 Canadian drivers don't approve of using a cellphone behind the wheel, more than half of them admit to using one while driving, according to a RBC Insurance/Ipsos Reid survey released this week.
In anticipation of widespread bans of electronic devices for drivers, North American car manufacturers are already building hands-free technologies right into new models.
3 comments
Funny they never consider the "lack of challenge" factor that keeps people alert while driving. Then we are left we the majority of drivers falling asleep at the wheel.
Or how people will like driving around in circles trying to find your house because they cannot reach dont for their phone and just call you.
This is nothing more then a feel-good law
This will not put a dent in the collision rate.
Maybe Increase it...
If the intent of this law is to keep both hands on the wheel - they better ban the timmies, cigarettes (oops, they already plan to), and food in the car. And if its the combination of attention/hands - ban the CD player, wipers, or any other gizmo in the car. What about the dogs bouncing around cars?
The proposed changes are seriously flawed as to logic. I seriously question the intent of this law. Is it to force drivers to pay attention or keep both hands on the wheel? Gee, maybe they'll try to ban general stupidity, which is not an offence - yet.
This post has 21 feedbacks awaiting moderation...
Comment feed for this post