Attention Deficit

The article Talk 'n' drive fines coming in 4 months was featured in the Toronto Star today.
The problem of people using hand held devices such as cell phones, IPods and GPS is not entirely new, but has risen in frequency in recent years as these types of technologies increase in popularity and availability.
It has been found that the use of such devices while driving increases the chance of being involved in a traffic accident. The reason that can probably be pinned down to this is automaticity. Driving is a learned skill that people get better at over time. When people good at a skill, they don’t need to pay as much attention to the fine details of performing it, they do most of it automatically without having to think about it. However, when something out of the ordinary occurs, perhaps an animal crosses the road or a car brakes hard in front of you, the motions performed aren’t automatic anymore, and need conscious thought to make a decision and react appropriately.
This becomes a problem when someone is multitasking. If a person is talking on a cell phone they are perfectly able to drive appropriately while talking at the same time. However, the conversation becomes the primary focus, and the driving takes the backseat; it becomes automated. Thousands of people drive perfectly fine while talking on cell phones all the time, because nothing out of the ordinary occurs as they drive. However, it’s when that sudden event occurs that demands the driver’s full attention, that the cell phone user is distracted and misses the making the correct decision to avoid the situation.
Using cell phones while driving is highly convenient and valuable. It’s nice to be able to tell a family member or colleague that you’re on your way or where you’re going. In the work setting, it may allow for efficiently using time that is otherwise wasted in commuting time. However, it is a simple fact of how our brain’s work that compromises our attention when driving.
Therefore I agree with the law they are putting in place. It will be inconvenient for sure, but maybe it’s not that big of a deal to call right before you get in the car, or to make a pit stop somewhere if one is that necessary. It just might save your life.