So the handheld devices law is finally here. Too bad it’s not really that useful. If you read back to my previous blog entry on the cell phone ban, you’ll see that I illustrated the true danger of cell phones; driving becomes to automatic when your focus is on the conversation, and abnormal events on the road can’t be responded to fast enough. Well, since this new law only bans ‘hand held devices’, and does nothing to curb or control hands-free devices, the problem certainly doesn’t get solved.
It is beneficial in a few ways though. Putting a ban on texting, Internet surfing, and fiddling with I-pods and GPS should help keep eyes on the road instead of in the lap. Texting while driving just sounds ridiculous, but apparently it done almost as frequently as actually talking on a cell phone.
Therefore, the new law sound be beneficial and reduce the numbers of accidents based on texting and other related functions of these devices, but probably won’t affect the rate of accidents from actual conversations.
Some people would argue that you can talk to passengers without increased risk, but that could probably be linked to the passenger being aware of your situation as well as you, providing and extra set of eyes.
The problem with increasing the ban to include all phone usage is practicality. It’s typically too hard to tell whether someone is using a hands-free device for it to be feasible to fine someone. Sure, there are ride checks and things like that, but it’s fairly easy to discreetly shove the earpiece into your center console before you get to it. However, a full-out ban might decrease usage by people afraid to be caught, or the odd one that doesn’t try to hide it.
The current status of the cell phone ban leaves something to be desired, but it is a step in the right direction.
I agree that the ban is a step in the right direction but perhaps it is time to institute criminal charges for these instances. Not necessarily all of them, but especially those accidents that are a direct cause of cell phone usage. Britain's law says that if it can be proved that an accident causing death happened in any part due to cell phone usage that it is immediately a criminal charge subject to 4-7 years in prison. Perhaps its time Ontario get more serious than a $500 fine. $500 isn't worth the life of any human.
ReplyDeleteHaving the ban of handheld devices is a good start, but I think having a grace period when the banning of handheld came into effect as of around Oct. 26/09 is absurd. I read a newspaper regarding the ban of handheld devices, and it stated that we shouldn't see anyone get fined until Feb. 1/10.
ReplyDeleteIts definately a great start to making the road ways safer. Texting while driving is definately one of the most frequent use of a cell phone use in the car. This ban is going to greatly help this problem however it is not going to stop it. I find that unlike cell phones passengers are not very distracting if anything like you said they are another set of eyes. I find that at most times the passenger is just as aware of the driver.
ReplyDeleteI don't like the grace period either, but at least somethings happening!
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