p2pnet - rss feed: CDs worse for drivers than cellphones
p2pnet news | Mobiles:- The Alberta government apparently isn’t ready for a law which already exists in Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and many US states and other countries.
An Edmonton Journal story refers to a proposed ban on cellphone use for drivers, but, “The Stelmach government deflated” that by releasing a report which says there’s, “no evidence to support a ban’s effectiveness”.
“It came out days after a Tory backbencher proposed a bill prohibiting motorists from using hand-held phones, and a poll showed the move has overwhelming support,” says the story.
Transportation minister Luke Ouellette, “cited the report’s emphasis on other distractions like playing CDs or applying makeup behind the wheel” to “downplay cellphone use” as “one little piece of the puzzle” of driver safety.
“I’ve driven behind someone just this week with a pet on their lap and they were all over the road,” the Journal has him saying.
“I mean, there’s a bunch of different things that create people to drive (while) not paying attention.”
He echoed his ministry’s report’s conclusion that it’s better to educate drivers that legislate a banm says the story.
.
.Stumble It!
Edmonton Journal - Hold the phone! Bans might not work, April 29, 2008
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April 29th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
As a profesional driver, I can tell you that driver distractions come in many forms; eating/drinking, tuning radio, talking to other people in the car, (On a bus you are not allowed to talk to the driver.),looking for that cd/mp3 that you want to hear, and (for some) dealing with children. Cell phones are not the evil that some make them out to be.
The driver has the ultimate responsibility to operate their vehicle in a safe manner. All we can do is cite them if they have accidents while not observing this rule.
April 29th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
I just can’t imagine trying to talk to someone on a CD.
April 29th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
How about just using common sense? Distractions must be minimized also. I believe it stupid to make laws over everything u must or must not do while in a car, and much of it would be unenforcable. Even wearing seatbelts which are often the CAUSE of death, should be optional, except for infants.
I find it far cheaper, more convenient, and easier to use an MP3 player rather than installing a car sound system.
April 29th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
Im going to eat, drink my Tim Hortons hot coffee, smoke my cig and talk on the phone all while my dog sits on my lap with his head out the window. Oh yeah I also have to pay attention to my gps monitor so I know where to drop the van full of kids of that are screaming and watching Harry Potter on the built in dvd system.
But seriously I was in one accident years ago. I rear ended someone cause i was lookin gdown changing the radio station. But I know sometimes talking on the phone can be distracting. If Im trying to bach up or try making a turn or something that I need to concentrate on I wont answer the phone or if im talking to someone ill say hold on and set the phone down.
May 20th, 2008 at 12:23 am
While my evidence is purely anecdotal, several time in the past couple of years I have almost been run down either crossing the street on foot or while riding my bike. In every instance, the person behind the wheel was talking on a cell phone. There shouldn’t be anything so important that it cannot wait until you can stop rather than call someone while driving. And to Paul, get a grip. Seat belt design has come a long way in 20 years. There is no excuse for not wearing one.