Comments on: Canadian distracted driving updates

By: Trevor

Trevor — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:54:14 +0000

Well, just got a 167 dollar fine from a motorcycle cop for sending a quick text to a friend waiting for me at a coffee shop while at a red light. Apparently having your foot on the brake while at a red light is “driving”. The cop told me that if my phone was in a cradle it would have been okay, so apparently having to lean over to the dash and text is safer than just typing okay to my friend on the phone in my lap. Of course they came up with that exception so that cops can type away on their mounted computers and phones in their squad cars. It just seems like another cash grab to me by cash strapped governments that have an insatiable lust for money for pet projects like useless 25 million dollar bicycle lanes in downtown Vancouver. I suppose next I’ll be fined for leaning over and grabbing something out of my glovebox at a red light.

The bitterest pill to swallow was the cop and his partner were illegally lane splitting between cars when he looked into my car. I guess that’s safer than me texting while fully stopped at a red light. He’ll be seeing me in court. I’m getting so tired of having every last detail of my life regulated by the suffocating Canadian government and it seems from the comments here that the majority of Canadians are only too happy to surrender common sense and freedom for more regulations.

By: heavyt

heavyt — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:33:39 +0000

Ridiculous, frustrating, and sad. Even MORE regulations controlling our lives, telling us what we can and can’t do. It’s beyond my understanding why they need to pass nationwide laws to punish people for….wait for it….communicating with each other!

But wait! It’s all about safety!! Think of the children!!!

Don’t even try that argument in my presence, unless and until you successfully lobby our masters in power to prohibit the use of alcohol, cigarettes, prescription drugs and a dozen other things that cause the deaths of thousands of times more people than cell phones.

As for other communications devices, specifically two-way radios (commercial, CB, Ham), their use is quite different from talking on a cellphone or texting. As someone already pointed out, when talking into a microphone the driver does not look at the mic, he/she looks at the road. Most two-way conversations are brief and sporadic – the mic is not held to the face for 30 mins while chattering away to another person. And obviously the driver does not have to stare at the mic and concentrate on spelling out a message like texting.

Finally, someone said that it’s not what your body is doing, it’s where your head is….Ok…I almost buy that…except we then must ban any activity which could distract you mentally while driving. That means no stereo/cd/mp3 players, no conversations with passengers, no roadside advertising signs/billboards, etc. Not to mention the major attention-getter of having police or emergency vehicles come up behind you with lights flashing and sirens blaring – instantly your eyes are glued to the rear-view mirror and NOT on the road…sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.

All this, to prevent a type of accident which kills fewer people than lightning strikes each year.

My 2 cents.

By: Jedimomma2007

Jedimomma2007 — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 04:28:14 +0000

so glad that this was passed into not only a prvincial/territorial law but a national law.

how many times have i been on the road (in my parents car as i dont drive) adn seen someone cause an accident cause they’ve been on their phone? too many to count. its the biggest reason y i dont have my licence. im too scared to drive on the road because of OTHER DRIVERS!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Brian Wieland

Brian Wieland — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:36:54 +0000

1) Right now my cell phone prohibition is working but slowly, and Mayor Rob Ford is “NOT” exempt from the cell phone law, try reading that law. Don’t beleive me try calling the Toronto Police Services.

2) Right now I’m trying to get the new provincial government to take stronger action in regards to the cell phone issue.

3) For those who don’t like my postings, well then don’t read them.

By: Trevor

Trevor — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:30:28 +0000

I love how people think passing more laws will somehow stop people from talking on the cell while driving. Like the stupid 2009 comments above. It’s 2011 and people are STILL chatting and texting while driving….. they now only attempt to hide this, which usually has their cell in their lap while they text, causing them to look down. The roads were better and safer when peoples eyes were up on the road.

Prohibition doesn’t work, never has, never will.

As for Rob Ford …. Mayor, police, Fire… are exempt from that cell phone law while conducting business. So stop your crying and complain about real issues, like traffic grid lock.

By: Brian Wieland

Brian Wieland — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 21:23:30 +0000

Sure the police are allowed to use cell phones while on duty BUT there are NOT setting a good example for others on the road just like Mayor Rob Ford — he wasn’t charged because “He’s the Mayor”.

Right now I’m ashamed of our law system and how they are handling the cell phone law…………

By: Rob Wallington

Rob Wallington — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 12:31:33 +0000

Cell phone use while driving should be concidered as a danger to the public, as well as any type of figiting while driving, which is chargeable under the criminal code of Canada and come with an automatic licence suspension. This would keep those drivers off the road.

By: Brian Wieland

Brian Wieland — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 00:09:53 +0000

So far no one is taking this new law seriously enough, it’s one BIG JOKE. Yet when there is an accident because of those stupid phones our insurance rates go up!! We need to start somekind of on line petition to tell the authorities enough is enough. $155 Fine just isn’t working maybe $500 or $1000 Fine instead…….

By: Carol

Carol — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 17:52:52 +0000

I think they should put more un-marked cars on our 401 and major hwys that get the traffic, to catch these people texting and talking on their phones more. I get upset when I see people not paying attention to the road, and leaving huge gaps of more then 4 cars inbetween them when in the fast or passing lanes. Holding up everyone, and not paying attn. I see every day at least 4 people alone everyday coming and going home each day on the 401. One day it will be serious, and I am hoping that the fee’s for committing these unlawful acts under the Motor Vehicle Act INCREASE. If not, get the Police out there to catch them! I value my life, and family..

By: E Knelsen

E Knelsen — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:07:45 +0000

I must say its both men and women that still use their phones while driving, of course females are gonna blame it on the males and vice versa just to make themselves look better, but here’s something to think about when you’re on the road, a lot of ppl drive like idiots when they’re yakking on the phone, for instance, driving in the far left lane talking and not paying attention to how close you are to your exit, and sure enough you cut across all 3 lanes just to make that exit instead of slowly merging to make it safely.

Then they wonder why there’s so many accidents on the road, and especially when they get on the hwy, they’re too busy yakking on the phone they don’t pay attention to look if there’s traffic coming, they just veer right onto the hwy and don’t think about the truck drivers that are hauling 45,000 lbs, news flash ppl, trucks can’t stop on dime!

But of course, its the truck drivers fault for you talking on the phone. Another thing, if you’re only doing 90 km/h on a major hwy, stay in the right lane, idiots that are in the center or left lane and are going slower than the rest of the traffic are the ones causing all the accidents and backups! Think before you get on the hwy!