New South Wales has issued a new set of road rules that "simplify and clarify" policy regarding drivers' use of cell phones and related devices. The law now states that drivers cannot touch cell phones unless they are fixed and mounted. Holding a phone while talking already is prohibited under NSW law. The road-rule rewrite went into effect Nov. 1, 2012. Drivers may not "touch or manipulate" their cell phones. Use is permissible if the phone is secured in a fixed mounting. The government's NSW road rules brochure (PDF) emphasizes that a driver "MUST NOT HOLD a phone" other than to "pass the phone to a passenger." Novice and provisional (P1) drivers may not use cell phones, regardless … [Read more...]
Alberta DD law now in effect
August 26, 2011 by 3 Comments
Alberta took its time installing a distracted driving law -- it's the eighth Canadian province to do so -- but the new rules clearly are among the most comprehensive in North America. The new Alberta distracted driving law went into effect next Thursday, Sept. 1. The fine is $172 (total). (This post updated Sept. 1) In addition to banning text messaging, emailing and the use of handheld cell phones for drivers, the law prohibits other use various other handheld electronic communications devices, grooming, non-commercial use of CB radios, GPS data entry, writing, drawing, sketching, reading of printed materials and the use of certain video screens (TVs, DVDs). Use of cell phones with … [Read more...]
Double trouble for distracted driver; mayor busted
July 26, 2011 by 1 Comment
A pair of odds and ends, with the emphasis on odd: Here's a candidate for the world's most brazen distracted driver: British police were in the process of stopping David Secker of Norwich for using a handheld cell phone while driving on a freeway. To their astonishment, the officers then realized that he was texting on another cell phone. The capper: Secker reportedly made the officer wait for him to finish his cell phone call. Sentencing is Aug. 15. Toronto's mayor allegedly gave the finger to a citizen who scolded him for using a cell phone while driving. Ottilie Mason said she gave Mayor Rob Ford a thumbs-down signal and he replied with the one-finger salute. Mason's 6-year-old was in … [Read more...]
Ontario: Distracted driving news
June 27, 2011 by 3 Comments
Distracted driving killed more people in Ontario last year than did drinking and driving, police say. In 2012, 83 people died in distracted driving crashes in Ontario, Provincial Police reported in April 2013. "Distracted driving was a causal factor that surpassed our impaired driving fatalities in 2012," the police highway safety chief said. The OPP wrote almost 16,000 distracted driving tickets in 2012. Police ran a distracted driving sweep April 15-22, 2013, targeting not only texting and use of handheld cell phones, but all forms of inattentive driving, such as eating and drinking, grooming, and dealing with children and pets. In London, police handed out 1,234 traffic tickets … [Read more...]
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