Alberta's new distracted driving law will probably kill more people than it saves because it encourages hands-free cell phone use, said Dr. Louis Francescutti, an emergency room doctor and safety crusader.
The Alberta legislature passed third reading of Bill 16 this week, which prohibits phoning, texting or emailing while driving as well as activities like reading, grooming or writing. The government is touting the new law as the most comprehensive in Canada.
Francescutti argues that it's actually regressive.
“I'd rather no law be passed than this one because it's terrible policy. It's some of the worst legislation I've ever seen written,” he said. “It gives people a false sense of security. I've gone so far as to say it will probably kill more people than it saves.”
The legislation allows the use of hands-free phones.
Research shows that using a cellphone while driving, whether hand-held or hands-free, increases the risk of collision by four to six times, Francescutti said. Combining the activities also reduces a person's reaction time and peripheral vision, he said.
“We know it's dangerous yet they're saying it's OK to do it. It's a joke,” he said.
The new law carries a proposed fine of $172 and no demerit points. These are also bones of contention for Francescutti.
“If they were serious about it, the fine would be $500 and there would be three demerit points,” he said. “That tells you right there this is all window dressing.”
The law began life three years ago as a bill to ban the use of handheld cell phones but a legislative committee chaired by St. Albert MLA Ken Allred recommended a broader bill addressing distracted driving.
At the time, the committee was in favour of including hands-free use in the ban.
Allred said he agrees with Francescutti — that the research shows hands-free is just as dangerous as using a hand-held — but the MLA thinks there are a number of reasons not to include hands-free in the ban.
For example, Allred believes that most hands-free use happens outside of cities in situations where driving isn't as busy or challenging. Also, enforcing hands-free use would be much more difficult, Allred said.
“In theory I agree with [Francescutti,]” Allred said. “I think there are some distinctions and I think we've got to ease into this and get public acceptance.”
The government will be alert to the issue of hands-free use for a few years, he said.
“If we see that there are still problems with hands-free, then we'll have to remove that exemption,” Allred said.
“I'm hoping, with bringing in this new law, that most people will quit using cellphones entirely. Certainly there are some people that will move to hands-free and that is a bit of a danger.”
The new law exempts emergency officials including police officers, firefighters and paramedics from the law while on the job. It's expected to come into force by mid-2011 after a public education and awareness campaign.
