Ontario docs on cellphones and driving
p2pnet news view | Mobiles:- Medical doctors in Ontario, Canada, say talking on a cellphone while driving is dangerous. Very dangerous.
Research from the Ontario Medical Association (OMA), “clearly shows that speaking on a phone while driving puts drivers at significantly greater risk of collision,” states the group, going on:
“The OMA has found evidence that cellphone use (regardless of whether it is hands-free or hand-held) has a significant impact on the driver’s cognitive functions, visual concentration, the speed at which they can process information and, as a result, their reaction time.”
The OMA doesn’t specify exactly what it wants the Ontario government to do but, “Government initiatives to curtail the use of cellphones while driving have been implemented in Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, a number of American States, Australia and much of Europe,” it says.
“Don’t get caught driving with a cell phone in California after July 1st, 2008!,” says the story accompanying the picture on right, adding:
“This is a reminder that Arnold Schwarzenegger, Govorner [sic] of California, passed a law back in 2006 that prohibits drivers from driving their vehicles while using a hand held cell phone (unless you have an emergency of course). The law comes in to effect on July 1st, 2008 and the minimum fine is $20.00 dollars.”
OMA – Cellphones and driving don’t mix: Ontario Doctors, September 14, 2008
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September 15th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
It’s easier to detect handheld phone use than hands-free since you can see it more easily, of course (the “I was singing to the radio officer” defence becomes difficult). The interesting question is what to do about hands-free calling if both become illegal. Indeed, do hands-free sets need to exist at all, and should they be permitted in cars on public roads? Do they have some purpose other than driving while calling?
Québec has banned both types of phone use while driving, I believe.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
There are many reasons why a driver would be distracted from his or her driving. Admonishing a malcontent child is one, and certainly listening to the news would be another. Law makers are simply addressing one, and arguable the newest reason for driver mishap. People have the choice to not answer the phone while driving. Should that driver also be involved in an accident, the cell phone log could be used in court to help establish fault in that driving mishap. A law is wrongheaded, does not deal with bad drivers, and steals away yet another personal right and freedom. I hope we don’t let this type of flimsy evidence gnaw away at what others have so valliantly fought.
September 15th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
I’m not sure I regard the use of a cellphone as a “personal right and freedom” when coupled with operating a motor vehicle.
In acquiring a driver’s license to begin with, it is made abundantly clear to you that “Driving is not a ‘right’… it is a PRIVILEGE!”. You are supposed to remember that every time you get into a car. You are supposed to always direct your attention to the road, and put all other distractions on hold whenever possible, from the time you start the engine to the time you shut it off. You are fully responsible for everything that results in between those times.
Talking on the phone, for many, appears to be an “all-consuming” activity, regardless of what kind of phone. It’s like they’re crawling into some other world inside the receiver, and disconnecting the cognitive part of their brain from the rest of their bodies! Walking while on the cell, they pace erratically and aimlessly, needlessly crossing paths with other walkers. While driving, I see heads cocked at crazy angles (not cradling the phone – it’s in their hands), with eyes pointing either at the roof or directly into the phone, and TWO hands waving about!
Cell users at a mall also show you where their priorities are.
They continue their conversations through a busy checkout line, paying no attention to the cashier (who’s trying to request the money, etc.) and making everyone wait. And, so many come back to their cars, turn the key, pull out, and RIGHT THEN, pull out their phones and INITIATE a call while trying to negotiate the parking lot, the people on foot, and a number of other concerns that they have elected to put second to the phonecall. (Why is it necessary to put the vehicle in motion?? – Make the call, then put down the phone and put the car in gear. This is clearly a voluntary decision on their part.)
No sir, this is not my idea of a something that deserves the title of a “personal right and freedom”!
An overwhelming number of cellphone users have already demonstrated they simply can’t “walk and chew gum at the same time”! And, as long they’re able to continue this behaviour, they really can’t be trusted to ensure anyone else’s safety. Personal rights and freedoms always end when they infringe on others’ right to the same, or negatively impact others’ quality of life or safety.
Using a cellphone is a VOLUNTARY ACTIVITY. No condition exists that would change that while the vehicle is in motion. If you can’t drive without constantly being on the phone, or checking text messages, or logging into Facebook… you need to examine your priorities!!
September 15th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Speakin as a person that drives for a living I could have saved a bunch of money on research, “Cell Phones Are Dangerous” people tend to pay more attention to the phone instead of driving, I see it every day. The engineer that caused the train wreak in California missed a light because he was text messaging on his cell phone.What to do? I don’t know but one thing for sure if my boss needs me he knows I’ll call when I’m stopped.
September 15th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
My two cents: Talking on a cell phone is different than talking to someone in the car for various reasons, including: 1) The person on the other end doesn’t easily pick up on cues that you may be busy for a moment (e.g. left turn coming up) and 2) The poorer sound quality (on any cell) requires more concentration.
I think it should be OK to talk on the phone, for example, if you are in a traffic jam on the expressway–a great purpose of the cell is to tell people you’ll be late.
I completely agree that the cell phone is distracting, and should not be used in most traffic situations, whether hands-free or not.
Joe (Waterloo, Ontario, Canada)
September 15th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
they should be able to install signal scramblers in cars ,so that you cannot use cellphones while the car is moving
September 15th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
How stupid can any of our politicians really now be? It is undeniable that many persons are wrongfully distracted while driving and talking on the phone.. it is now just as dangerous just as much as they have been drinking alcohol too.. driving and talking on the phone, male or female, with or without handsets too now they are dangerous.. and often as a result do fail to stop at lights, stops signs, pedestrians crossings.. I do not need any expensive study to prove this now too for I often have too often seen it myself when I go for walks..
September 16th, 2008 at 12:57 am
And, in a related story…
Crash investigation probes texting by train driver
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iT9VvX9Y4iMJsM6uq9Dv_kwmueQg
(OMG!~)
September 16th, 2008 at 9:46 am
People smoke while driving, operate navigational systems, dvd systems, radios etc. What is the difference?
September 16th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Hey p2pnet!
What happened to the comment I put in after RW’s??
Tried again, thinking I made an error – your server gives back a message like “duplicate entry?”.
September 16th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
^^ Sorry. I may have accidentally deleted it when I was doing a spam run. I try hard not to, but once in a while ……
I don’t know why the ‘duplicated’ — I looked and there’s nothing there.
Sorry!
Cheers!
September 16th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Studies have shown going to a doctor is hazardous to your health. I would bet more people die from medical misadventures every day than due to cell phone use. Maybe doctors should mind their own store and let the rest of us worry about ours.
September 16th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
I once was run into by a doctor ( a vet) and of course he was on his cell phone doing 90 in a 50 zone.
September 17th, 2008 at 12:36 am
(OK, Thanks Jon)
September 17th, 2008 at 12:38 am
Hey, Jon!
You weren’t talking on your cell phone when that happened, were you?!
: )
September 17th, 2008 at 12:59 am
I was in Best Buy the other day and someone was looking at car stereos and he wanted one that has a big screen and plays movies so he can watch them while he drives.
I always thought tv screens were not aloud in sight of the driver as to not distract him. Now it seems car stereos are getting more and more visually atractive. Fancy display screens, ability to play movies, and iPod hook up where you can search for that one song you want to hear that directory of thousands of songs.
If they are gonna be banning someone talking on the phone I’d like to see them curb the purchase and installation of tv/dvd car stereos.
September 17th, 2008 at 1:33 am
“People smoke while driving, operate navigational systems, dvd systems, radios etc. What is the difference?”
Well, “technically”, a distraction is a distraction. But, some things only distract the driver for an instant (, while other things require attention for longer periods of time. And, some things need to be done while driving (checking mirrors, gauges, etc.), while some things really are unnecessary to be doing. Additionally, some things require your eyes to leave the road, while other things don’t.
Accidents certainly do happen as a direct result of doing all of the things RW mentioned. And some of the modern “conveniences” being put in at the factory level (GPS, video screens, etc.) probably shouldn’t be, for the same reason.
Why is cellphone use more of a concern? Probably because the majority of people have demonstrated that when they’re on the phone (cell or other), they become absolutely CONSUMED. It seems to be the one “voluntary distraction” that disconnects the most brains from their attention to their driving. I would also rate texting right up there with it.
I can’t count the number of times I’ve stepped off a curb to cross a street, only to be almost wiped out by someone talking on their cell who failed to stop at the corner and LOOK! before roaring around that corner! Ask yourself, why does a cell phones stop so many people from seeing with their eyes? Who knows? But, it quite obviously is the case. That’s part of being “consumed”, as I said.
People do a lot of stupid things when they’re supposed to be in control of their vehicle.
Some things I’ve witnessed over and over again…
- Foot up on the dashboard… cutting toenails
- Applying makeup, shaving, combing hair, squeezing pimples (and turning the rear view mirror to accommodate it)
- Food on the lap, eating something messy and/or of volume (there goes the grip!)
- Masturbating (can’t believe how often I actually see this! – Men and women both!)
- Reading a book or trying to handle a road map (even to the point of blocking their entire view of the road for scary long periods)
- Body turned 180 degrees, fighting with the kids or pleading with the dog to lay down
People that do these things have no brains, and no regard for others’ safety. They are accidents waiting to happen.
Certainly, if you add up the damage caused by such people, and add that to the damage caused by cell phone use, it may compare to the damage caused by drunk drivers!
Indeed, with driving, there really isn’t much difference between being drunk and being distracted, when I think about it.