The sooner the province of Ontario – and other jurisdictions, for that matter – introduce bans on using cell phones and other wireless devices while you drive, the better.
This morning, for example, I saw a woman driving an SUV stopped at a stoplight, and banging out a message on her Blackberry. (For some reason, SUV owners are the worst culprits. Maybe it has to do with socio-economics.) It’s beyond me why this person felt the need to not only check her e-mail but send a reply as well.
Hey, I’m all for instant communications but was it that important for this woman to respond right away? Not surprisingly, she didn’t pick on the fact the light turned green until the cars behind her started honking.
If you’re driving drive. If you want to multi-task, wait until you get to the office rather than doing it while sitting in a 5,000-pound, gas-sucking machine.
There, I feel much better.
Technorati Tags: blackberry, iPhone, wireless
5 Comments
Nothing wrong with getting rid of distractions… but the thought that using a cellphone is the only distraction is very short sighted.
In my regular commute I like to keep tabs on things I see drivers doing and here are several that at least to me should also be ‘illegal’ if use of a communications device is deemed so:
- turning around to fiddle with the kids
- applying makeup/shaving while driving
- reading a document balanced on the steering wheel
- eating cereal with a spoon out of a bowl on ones lap
- pushing buttons on iPod while on steering wheel
- using a laptop
- eating a sub/burger/etc and trying to keep it from dripping on clothes
- continuously switching a hot cup of Tim’s coffee from hand to hand
- opening/closing a travel mug
- letting a dog ride on the lap
And that’s not even mentioning playing with the stereo/subwoofer, gps, sunroofs, CDs and so forth; putting on/taking off coats, reaching for stuff in the back seat; and the entire act of smoking.
The bottom line is that while comm devices are a distraction they are hardly alone. I think it is telling that the most significant stats are not for ‘accidents caused by cell phone use’, but rather ‘accidents caused by distraction’. Just what that distraction was is complete assumption if it is not explicitly indicated.
Here’s another bit of non-statistical, non-scientific observation. On the QEW between Oakville and Toronto men slightly outnumber women as cell phone users. However, of the women using cellphones less than a quarter use a hands-free device while over 2/3 of men do. Why is that?
PRJack,
Hey, I’m with you on all counts. It’s a distraction epidemic!
These people need to at least be made aware of technology lie Jott, and that they can send a text response to a person via a voice call.
It’s now unlawful in Quebec Province to drive and operate a phone without an hand-free device, since July 1st this year, after a 3 month warning period (April 1st to June 30th. It did help boost the sales of bluetooth mics… I drive a motorbike to work, so I pay more attention to other drivers, but even with a 150$ + 3 points fine, I barely notices any reduction in usage.
Please pardon the sexist comment but it comes from a lot of observation. Young women driving have a phone or PDA pinned to thier ears and hands. It’s not a quick check etc.. I live 45 mins north of the city, I have been in traffic watching 1 driver in front of me, not put the phone down once during that 45 mins, no signal lane changes, in the left left going the same speed as cars in the middle lane all this and in winter driving conditions.
Yes, the sooner they put the ban in effect the better IMO.