Ontario's law banning the use of handheld electronic devices by drivers is now in effect. Enforcement of the province-wide ban started Monday, but the fines that could sap violators of $500 (CAN) won't kick in until Feb. 1, 2010. "This law is about keeping your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel," Transportation Minister Jim Bradley said at a news conference in Toronto on Monday. "We need to prevent these unnecessary road accidents and I believe this law will do just that." Drivers may continue to use cell phones if a hands-free device such as a Bluetooth headset is … [Read more...]
Calif. first lady caught on cell phone
October 13, 2009 by Leave a Comment
The state of California's first lady, Maria Shriver, has been photographed violating the handheld cell phone ban that her husband signed into law. The governor promised "swift action." Grounding perhaps? The celebrity gossip web site TMZ posted a photo and video of Shriver yapping while driving at two different times, saying she dropped the cell phone when she realized she was being photographed. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger used Twitter to say: "Thanks for bringing her violations to my attention. There's going to be swift action." About the same time, TMZ said it caught Shriver yet again … [Read more...]
Maine’s distracted driving law in action
October 9, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Maine's controversial distracted-driving law is now in effect and has snared at least one violator: a teenager from New Hampshire. The 19-year-old admitted she was text messaging Oct. 4 just before she plowed her vehicle into a utility pole in the city of Kittery. The neighbors took notice -- their power was knocked out for the afternoon. Maine's distracted driving law went into effect Sept. 12. Legislation specifically prohibiting texting and handheld cell phone use while driving failed to advance in 2009, and critics have said the general law does not adequately address these dangerous … [Read more...]
Fed workers banned from texting, driving
October 2, 2009 by Leave a Comment
President Obama has ordered federal employees to stop text messaging while driving on the job. The news was announced Thursday by Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, left, as he spoke on the final day of the DOT's distracted driving summit. "Text messaging causes drivers to take their eyes off the road and at least one hand off the steering wheel, endangering both themselves and others," the president said as he signed the three-page executive order. The ban did not include limits on drivers talking on handheld cell phones, echoing the year's trend in state legislatures. The … [Read more...]
Distracted driving an epidemic, summit told
September 30, 2009 by Leave a Comment
"Distracted driving is a menace to society," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Wednesday as he opened the federal summit on text messaging, cell phoning and other forms of dangerous behaviors behind the wheel. The government was ready with the statistical evidence: 5,870 people were killed and 515,000 were injured in 2008 in which distracted driving was a factor. Sixteen percent of fatal crashes had the link, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found. "Distracted driving is an epidemic and it seems to be getting worse every year," LaHood told his audience of experts on … [Read more...]
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