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Posted by: Ryan_Williams on 10/23/2009 08:50 AM
Updated by: Ryan_Williams on 10/23/2009 11:31 AM Expires: 01/01/2014 12:00 AM Police go from 'hands up' to 'hands free' The days of watching a driver roar by you at 120km/h while you catch a glimpse of one hand on the wheel and the other ‘texting’ on their cellphone are finally past us. By Ryan Williams theclaw.ca Effective Oct. 26 new legislation will ban all hand-held devices used by drivers. The new law should improve safety on Ontario’s roadways. “This includes GPS, Cell phones, Blackberrys, and even gaming devices,” Constable Carolle Dionne of the Ontario Provincial Police explained. It’s easier finding people with a phone to their ear while driving than to spot someone driving with their hands at '10 and 2' on the wheel. “Go out on the street corner and every one out of two drivers is on a cell phone,” Dionne observed. Dionne is not just a police officer she is also a full-time mother who gets nervous when her 18 year old son takes the car. "I call my son to see where he is and he has to remind me 'Mom I'm driving'" Dionne admitted. "Then put me on with the passenger" she says she replies. The new legislation is called Countering Distracted Drivers and Promoting Green Transportation Act 2009. Although it will be law as of Monday, there is a warning stage where drivers will be pulled over and reminded of the new law. “Drivers will not be charged with this until Feb. 1st, 2010,” Dionne explained. “Officers still have the option to give other charges under the Careless (Driving) Act.” Hands-free Bluetooth accessories may still be used to talk while driving, which would avoid the charges. “Turn off your cellphone,” Dionne suggested, especially when taking long road trips. The new fine has yet to be put in place by the Ministry of Transportation but is expected to be in the range of up to $500. It might be a hefty price but people on phones are statistically much more dangerous, according to Const. Dionne. “They (drivers) are four times more likely to be involved in an accident.” The new law is aimed at reducing those numbers and to improve everyone’s safety. Ontario joins Quebec and Newfoundland as the only provinces in Canada to go hands-free which on a world rank is not very good. “I think nationally Canada is going to jump on the wagon,” said Dionne but added “Canada is actually behind if you're comparing it to the other countries across the world.” In cases of emergencies, cellphones will be permitted to be used by drivers. Police officers, paramedics, and firefighters will all be allowed to continue use of hand required devices - but only in the line of duty. If your phone does ring well driving Dionne suggested “pull over to a safe place and take your call there” but the car must not be in motion or impeding traffic, she added. Other drivers on the road agree this is the right move to make. “Making people keep their hands on the wheel will definitely make it safer for other drivers” said Justin Steed, a Nipissing University student who drives to school everyday. “It’s a good law to have, I bet it will make an improvement” added Steed. |
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