"Like that will help... Do you actually believe these people will adhere to the law?" I commented. He agreed it probably wouldn't, but noted it was high-time a law like that was passed in any case.
Continuing with our day's errands, we began to notice (and count) the number of drivers we encountered on the road that were using a cell phone. Low and behold, we estimated an average of one in every five drivers were using one!Unbelievable! Do these people realize just how dangerous that is?
Drivers are required to focus 100 percent on the road while driving. Given the fact that looking away for even a split second could result in an accident, why in heavens name would a person think they could 'safely' multi-task behind the wheel of a vehicle?
Talking on a cell phone does not enable a driver to focus 100 percent of his/her attention to the road. Not only does the driver not have both hands on the wheel, their attention is 'mentally' divided as well. Even with hand-free devices, a drivers 'mental attention' is not 100 percent focused on the road either. Instead, focus is significantly reduced by conversation involvement.
When I got home, I started doing a bit of research on the new legistlation and found several interesting articles/comments pertaining to its enactment:
"Driving requires the full attention of all vehicle operators. Using hand-held devices can have tragic consequences as drivers do not have both hands on the wheel and they are not paying full attention to what they're doing. As communication devices utilized in vehicles become more common, the risk to public safety increases. This legislation will not only remind people of their driving obligations, it will also provide appropriate tools for the police when circumstances warrant enforcement."
- Chief Ian Davidson, President, Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police
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"Doctors know all too well the consequences of driving while distracted. The evidence is clear: driving while using a mobile phone is dangerous. We are pleased that Ontario is taking action to protect the lives of drivers, passengers and everyone who shares the road."
- Dr. Ken Arnold, President of the Ontario Medical Association
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"Mobile technologies have dramatically increased our ability to multitask at home and work and now unfortunately in our cars. And it's happening despite clear evidence that most motor vehicle accidents are caused by driver error. Anything that takes away from one's focus on safe driving should be avoided."
- François Boulanger, president and CEO, RBC General Insurance Company
"There is growing evidence that the use of wireless devices while driving is a major cause of preventable injury on our roads - both here in Canada and around the world. With new wireless devices coming out on the market every day, this is a much-needed law and we applaud the government for taking action."
- Bob Baker, President and CEO, SMARTRISK Canada
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"Distracted driving has been a concern to our members for a number of years. The CAA is pleased to see that our government leaders are listening to them in the proposed piece of legislation."
- Kris Barnier, Provincial Affairs Specialist, Canadian Automobile Association
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From The Canadian Press:
Drivers in Ontario could be fined as much as $500 if they're caught using their cellphones under the new law. Transportation Minister Jim Bradley's new legislation calls for a ban on the use of hand-held devices to talk, e-mail or send text messages while driving.
The ban wouldn't affect the use of hands-free devices or 911 calls, but includes portable video games and DVDs.Global positioning systems will be allowed, as long as they're properly secured to the dashboard.
There are no demerit points attached to the bill, but drivers who place others at risk by using one of the banned devices can also be charged under the existing careless driving laws. They could face fines of up to $1,000, six demerit points, a driver's licence suspension and even jail time.
Legislation similar to this was introduced for the first time nearly 10 years ago by Progressive Conservative MPP John O'Toole. He thinks the government's legislation should take a softer approach, pushing education over punishment.
"On first offences, what they should do is require them to take some kind of course on driver distraction to show them in these lab things how you are 25 per cent more likely to be in an accident if you're involved with technology. So I would start that way, don't start with the hammer, start with the educational piece, I think that's the important part." said O'Toole.
The ministry says the ban is needed because driver distraction is a factor in 20 per cent of all accidents. Newfoundland and Labrador became the first province to ban the use of hand-held cellphones in 2003, while Quebec and Nova Scotia both moved earlier this year to stop drivers from using hand-held cellphones.
The Ontario Medical Association is on record saying speaking on a phone while driving puts people at "a significantly greater risk" of getting in an accident, and warns that using hands-free devices doesn't really lower that risk.
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Excerpt from CanWest News Service:
Evelyn Vingilis, an auto safety expert and professor at the University of Western Ontario's department of family medicine, says a total prohibition on cellphone activity is needed.
"Research shows it's the attention that's paid, not whether it's hands-free or not hands free," says Ms. Vingilis, a member of the Canadian Association of Road Safety Professionals.
A report by the Ontario Medical Association backs that up, claiming there is no difference between hands-free and hand-held cellphones "when it comes to cognitive distraction." The report cited a 2004 study that found hands-free cell users are 18 per cent slower to brake and take 17 per cent longer to recover speed. Overall, cellphone use caused a doubling of rear-end collisions.
"I would say the ideal would be to have cellphone use end, period," says Ms. Vingilis.
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Then I came across this video on the subject posted on the Ontario Ministry of Transportation site:
Driver Distraction
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Bottom line... If you are caught using a cell-phone while driving, you can't say you weren't warned!