B.C. considering cell phone ban for drivers

[Gh0stRider]

ctvbc.ca

British Columbia may become the seventh province in Canada to restrict the use of cell phones while driving.

Solicitor General Kash Heed saw the harm of using cell phones on the road when he worked as a police officer.

"I'll have a lot more to say in the next couple weeks with respect to the process were going to utilize," he said.

Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Manitoba have all introduced measures to limit cell phone use already.

The last time B.C. considered jumping onboard, former Solicitor General John Les rejected the notion that cell phones cause accidents.

"We have not been able to uncover evidence that has led to decrease in crashes, it's extremely inconclusive evidence coming out of those experiences," he said.

But the evidence on the road is littered with crashes and deaths linked to cell phone use. Everyone from BC police chiefs to the provinces doctors say there should be a total ban on cell phone use.

Trace Acres of the B.C. Automobile Association says that young drivers should be banned from cell phone use on the road first.

"That's a very high risk group of drivers, and we know that it's a fast growing market for the use of electronics mobile electronic communications devices," he said.

[SoulCrusher]

...its about time. Hopefully the associated penalties are severe.

[scheng924]

i say do it.. but so hard to enforce...
give a civilian phone # to report cars which they see the driver talking on the phone as well

[124Y]

Even though this might be inconvenient for a lot of drivers, it'll make the roads safer for everyone.

[Philly74]

about time they ban cellphone while driving. took they long enough!

[Gh0stRider]

I hear they also want to ban hands free units.

[scheng924]

what about in car bluetooth units?...

i would think only holding a cell is not allowed and bluetooth, handsfree, or bluetooth car unit would be ok, but we'll wait and see i guess

it's safer for everyone but a bit inconvenient, however, given the amount of bad driving i've seen around vancouver, i wouldn't mind if they ban it all together..

my ideal way of this is to allow bluetooth headset, handsfree, and in car bluetooth units

[ilvtofu]

I text/tweet/fb while driving, so I can see why they would want to ban young drivers...
I don't do it while in motion, only at reds, it's too dangerous to do while you're moving because i'm not very good at texting without looking

Another thing about young drivers these days i find is that less and less learn stick, so they've got nothing better to do with their other hand (please no dirty comments)

[KaOsTiK]

i support the ban..but hopefully they don't ban the use of hands free units. that would kinda hinder a lot of ppl who do business on the road

[JulyZerg]

FINALLY!

[smoothie.]

i can see less accidents, and then more accidents from people trying to use their phones via handsfree/bluetooth.

its still down to the drivers imo.

[Culture_Vulture]

now I'll have another reason not to pick up calls

[TOPEC]

i dont think its holding the cell phone thats causing accidents, its the loss of concentration from TALKING to the other party at the other end that causes the loss of concentration which leads to crashes/accidents. so i'm guessing using bluetooth/hands free will most likely be banned as well.

[teaoh]

Originally Posted by scheng924

i say do it.. but so hard to enforce...
give a civilian phone # to report cars which they see the driver talking on the phone as well

lol and while they're reporting, someone will report them. And the chain goes on

[johny]

now everytime a phone rings people will be pulling over as fast as they can and stoping anywhere they can... which will cause 2x more accidents then answering while driving.

[boss_clad]

isn't it already into effect? my mom says her friend got fined $400

[urrh]

feels more and more like we might as well live in a world of nerf...
soon it'll be like "oh no, the blades of my lawn mower has left my grass trimmings too sharp! hope no one calls the cops on me before i can round out those corners..."

[geeknerd]

^ probably got driving without due care. if officer thinks that the mom using phone while driving = fail, he can probably give that ticket.


but anything having the actual phone up to your ear, u can say u were singing to the song as a excuse probably.

[1990TSI]

I've never crashed while txting so why should this affect me?

jk la~

glad my car came with bluetooth in case this law passes!

[TheKingdom2000]

Originally Posted by scheng924

i say do it.. but so hard to enforce...
give a civilian phone # to report cars which they see the driver talking on the phone as well

i dont' see how this does anything though? you can't prove it?

Originally Posted by TRD604

I hear they also want to ban hands free units.

I find this stupid if they ban hands free...

honestly, texting while driving is the worst... i don't see how talking on the phone is dangerous.. i support the ban though..

or i could live with NEW DRIVERS not allowed to use their cell phone.. but to enforce this would be very troublesome.. since alot of new drivers do not put the "N" up.

[NimbeeTT]

Im all for this law
but yeah, i think its the fact that youre losing concentration of the road while you're talking on the phone like someone said earlier, not so much the holding of the phone, but that def has its share too.

I mean, personally when i drive and im "chatting" with the person in the passenger seat, i KNOW i am losing concentration of the road cause it's a little more difficult for me to really focus on where im going and shoulder checking and all the safety procedures. With a cell phone in hand would be much worse cause you're sorta obligated to respond on the phone whereas if you had a passenger theyd see you're driving and understand and wait for your responses when youre tied up =/

[rsx]

Ticket folks who are using maps too. Ticket drivers <50kmh too.

[johny]

we should ban all passengers. limit one person (driver) per car unless you have a soundproof glass window between front and back seats.

passengers talk more then phones do.

[woob]

but you dont have to hold passengers to your ear to talk to them.

[TheKingdom2000]

Originally Posted by woob

but you dont have to hold passengers to your ear to talk to them.

speak for yourself