It's about bloody time !!

[alphabet man]

http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/targets+cellphone+drivers/2129332/story.html

 Though enforcement is another issue, but this is the right direction

[Sputnik]

definitely a move in the right direction.
I hope Alberta will follow with similar legislation soon. My wife is one of the biggest cellphone-while-driving offenders    and it pisses me off.

[Malks]

The hand-held devices ban takes effect on October 26th here in Ontario.  It is about time because most of the drivers in this province are bad enough even when they are paying attention.  However, the OPP say they will only be giving out lectures for the first few months.  We will see if this new law will help.

[Against The Wind]

It might have a small impact but that's about it. The issue is not "hands-free" but rather "mind-not-there". People on cell phones can't see the trees for the forest. And enforcement of the current law will likely be a joke anyway. Governments will pat themselves on the back for being tough but they're a bunch of candy asses, afraid to take on Rogers, Bell and Telus.

[Kootenanny]

Listened to a call-in show on CBC about this today.  Most people are in favour, but a few are quite vocally against it.  Guess it will affect some people more than others...

I was tempted to phone in to give the motorcyclist's point of view...but I didn't...

[bubba zanetti]

Drove the cage into Vancouver Monday and back today. The preponderance of cell phone use, on extraordinarily busy roads, is amazing.

Had two drivers drift into my lane on the Port Mann bridge within 1 minute of each other on Monday. I think one was reaching for a drink/coffee as he chatted on his phone. This was at 120 kmh and bumper to bumper as has become common from Abbotsford in. There are/is no police enforcement of speed on the 1 that I could see and at one point I was doing 155kmh along with a huge group.

It scared me enough that I pulled off to Mallardville for a few scotches   to finish my drive into East Hastings   OMG ! and then on to my Hotel on West Hastings, where I farted through silk for 4 days on the 33 floor. But I digress ... or, perhaps, ... am still digesting that whole experience including the $8.95 beer (bottle of Kokanee) and $15.95 a day charge for Wi-Fi. Imagine ... is this city hosting the Olympics or what ???  

So I wonder. How is it that I spent half my life not needing to speak to someone when I was ...

A. Walking

B. Driving

C. etc .. etc

[canban]

Drove the cage into Vancouver Monday and back today. The preponderance of cell phone use, on extraordinarily busy roads, is amazing.

Had two drivers drift into my lane on the Port Mann bridge within 1 minute of each other on Monday. I think one was reaching for a drink/coffee as he chatted on his phone. This was at 120 kmh and bumper to bumper as has become common from Abbotsford in. There are/is no police enforcement of speed on the 1 that I could see and at one point I was doing 155kmh along with a huge group.

It scared me enough that I pulled off to Mallardville for a few scotches   to finish my drive into East Hastings   OMG ! and then on to my Hotel on West Hastings, where I farted through silk for 4 days on the 33 floor. But I digress ... or, perhaps, ... am still digesting that whole experience including the $8.95 beer (bottle of Kokanee) and $15.95 a day charge for Wi-Fi. Imagine ... is this city hosting the Olympics or what ???  

So I wonder. How is it that I spent half my life not needing to speak to someone when I was ...

A. Walking

B. Driving

C. etc .. etc

Bubba you were in town and didn't get in touch? I guess we are even for my not calling on my way through Castlegar
 
Vancouver drivers are the worst I have ever experienced. They combine a low skill level, excessive and inappropriate speed with a general distractedness. Combine that with the density and one's defensive driving  skills are really put to the test.

I am constantly yelling into my helmet, " Get off the .....phone and .....drive."

Other than that and a bit of rain still loving it here.

[jp]

Hand held phones have been illegal here for a year or so. They were saying that the cops have given out HUNDREDS of tickets this year and that there are fewer users now. That sounds great, but I still see the bozos regularly so I think there are still lots out there.
NOW there is a new menace on the roads though! I've been cut off and blocked by idiots just about once every day in the last few months.
Those that DO fear the law when their little ringer goes off now jam on the brakes and pull off any old place to answer the 'urgent' call.
It's like a slalom event some mornings!

"Don't forget to pick up a quart of milk, dear" "Mommmmm! Where are the Cheerios??" "Is it OK to let out the dog!" "Hi! What are you wearing???"


 

[Kootenanny]

...This was at 120 kmh and bumper to bumper as has become common from Abbotsford in. There are/is no police enforcement of speed on the 1 that I could see and at one point I was doing 155kmh along with a huge group.

Yeah, one of my sore points--after experiencing the #1 from the "Wack into New West, I come out here and get a speeding ticket for doing 125 km/hr out near Greenwood, with absolutely no-one else around--what's wrong with this picture?  Is it solely because we're easy pickin's out here all alone?  The #1 through the FV is definitely the more dangerous place to ride, yet it's also the place you'll never get ticketed at 40+ over.

OK, rant off.  Hope you enjoyed your time in Vancouver, Bubba--hope you got some good eatin' in.

[Snowdog]

Vancouver drivers are the worst I have ever experienced.

You've obviously never been to London then.  

Hand held phones while driving have been illegal for several years over here - it has made bugger all difference.

[stealth1]

Problem is.....
It's not holding the phone that causes the problem.
I know of one armed people who are perfectly good drivers.
It's the distraction of the conversation that is the problem.
There have been studies that show hands free devices are no safer than hand held.
Just looks like class discriminatory legislation.
The lawyer in the new Lexus is much more likely to have a hands free phone than the working stiff in a 10 year old pickup.
Guess who makes the laws.
The hands free devices just allow the operator to use his other hand to take notes or reach for another doughnut.

[ST1300Rider]

Problem is.....
It's not holding the phone that causes the problem.
I know of one armed people who are perfectly good drivers.
It's the distraction of the conversation that is the problem.

Bingo. We have a winner. There is a body of evidence that proves, not suggests, proves that the same areas of the brain that process verbal communication are the ones used for making evaluative decisions. If you're talking to anyone, even someone beside you in the car, you're not 100% focused on your driving.

[stealth1]

Bingo. We have a winner. There is a body of evidence that proves, not suggests, proves that the same areas of the brain that process verbal communication are the ones used for making evaluative decisions. If you're talking to anyone, even someone beside you in the car, you're not 100% focused on your driving.
[/quote]


Damn if you aren't right.
I can remember the day when I used to try to drive down the street and communicate with my teenage daughters.
I was on a residential street once and one of them said something that shocked me so much I locked up mentally and just lifted my foot off the accelerator.
Unfortunately the guy behind me wasn't paying attention and rear ended me!

[ice-cycle]

others have said, and I have nothing to add, but hey, why not post, the problem is not the use of hands, but the fact that the brain is otherwise engaged.

Unlike talking to a passenger, in which you share the same space, and the passenger might even assist the driver in recognizing danger --"Watch that idiot wanting to enter on the rrrriiiiiiiggghttt", when talking on the cell phone, our brains need to imagine where the other person is, what they look like, what they are doing as they are talking.  Amazing what 3 million years of evolution will do?