Given Alberta’s reluctance to follow in the footsteps of other provinces, it comes as a surprise Ed Stelmach’s government is finally ready to ban the use of cellphones while driving. More shocking still is the sweeping range of the legislation aimed at eliminating all distractions behind the wheel, which we support.
Transportation Minister Luke Ouellette told reporters last week the province is crafting a bill that could be introduced as early as this spring banning the use of cellphones while driving, but also targeting other distractions behind the wheel. Hands-free and GPS devices, as well as any other kind of electronic distraction, could be also included.
The Tories have repeatedly ignored the issue of distracted driving, even in the face of public support and overwhelming evidence showing just how dangerous it can be to use a cellphone behind the wheel. Whatever the reason for the change of heart — from low approval ratings to the desire not to be the last province to take action — it’s past time Stelmach and his caucus introduced some form of legislation. Nationwide, only Alberta and New Brunswick lack cellphone bans.
But more specifically, the Tories are aiming high and trying to get drivers to stop doing anything that distracts them from the task at hand — driving. That means such inane activities as texting while driving, which a University of Utah study found pulled drivers’ eyes off the road for more than five seconds at a time could thankfully become illegal. Most other provinces, despite mounting research and anecdotal evidence, still allow hands-free devices as part of their cellphone bans, but studies have demonstrated it’s the mental activity of conducting a conversation, not the way in which it is conducted that is the most dangerous aspect of talking on the phone while driving. Hands-free devices might make a cellphone less cumbersome, but they don’t unclutter the mind
This legislation could also be used to stamp out some truly moronic driving behaviours that have emerged courtesy of the growth of technology. There is the in-dash DVD player that, in theory, locks when a vehicle is engaged so as not to distract the driver. Yet it’s well known that overrides for the technology can be found on the Internet that disable the safety function, allowing drivers to watch their favourite movies. Laptops and portable DVD players have made it even easier. Even someone who tries to rationalize the behaviour by thinking, “I’ll just listen,” will inevitably end up watching. It’s the same pull every driver feels when they receive a new text message — you just have to look, whether you’re still driving or not.
It is gratifying the province has come forward after years of avoidance with a bill in the works so robust and sweeping. Critics have often accused the Tories of ignoring public safety in favour of business — after all, short of a handful of companies that have voluntarily banned their staff from using cellphones, many workers have them and use them often. The legislation, if passed, might well be worth the wait if it can help save lives on Alberta’s roads. Now if Stelmach could follow through with ATV legislation and fixed election dates, we might be able to catch up with the rest of the country.
