Behind the Wheel - October 4, 2006

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Who's Right?

I was driving to school this morning and listening to the news on the radio. Our Minister of Public Safey and Solicitor General, John Les, was being interviewed about the use of cell phones while driving. He said that British Columbia would not be joining the jurisdictions that ban the use of these devices while driving because there was no evidence their use was dangerous. He cited things like eating behind the wheel or drinking coffee as being a greater hazard and observed that there was no law against these activities either.

In order to keep current on traffic safety now that I am retired from active policing I have subscribed to a number of electronic services that send me information on topics such as driving while using a cell phone. I have read reliable research that shows talking and driving can be as dangerous under certain conditions as drinking and driving is. To my knowledge, no one has shown that this practice carries so little risk that we don't have to worry about it.

A recent survey of Canadian drivers shows that we feel poor driving practices are a significant threat to us in our daily lives. Interestingly, it also showed that we consider the problem to be "the other driver" and not us. The majority rated their driving skills as above average or excellent. If this is the case, where do all those inconsiderate, incapable drivers come from?

Is it possible that the Ministry of Public Safety and the Solicitor General is populated by these drivers with excellent capabilities who can drive while using a cellphone and not cause risk to themselves and others? Or could it be that the Minister should have said that we recognize the risk and that the police have sufficient tools at their disposal now to cope with the problem, so we don't need more rules?

Either way, I still advise that you shouldn't talk and drive when someone asks my opinion. I prefer to pull over, well off the travelled portion, and complete my call before carrying on with my travels. Your safety and mine is not worth the few minutes that this costs. If I can't spare the time, I turn my cellphone off so I won't be tempted.

Reference Links (http://drivesmartbc.ca/current.htm)

[matt]

I have no problem driving while talkin on the phone, but I can also concentrate on two things at once... Some people can't handle driving in the first place.

I personally find eating while driving to be far more distracting, yet, as you stated, noones lobbying for that. A few crashes cause of cellhpones get thrown at the media's attention and all of a sudden its a big political point. Laws arent really about what we want, its about what hte masses are told to think what they want.

[nuttah]

i use my cellphone while driving because my job demands it. this being said if i'm merging onto the hwy or doing anything other than going in a straight line i do put my call on hold in order to make my driving adjustments as needed so my full attention is where it should be, i agree that most people have difficulty with driving alone at the best of times and talking etc.. does divert their attention form what they should be doing. i believe i've already said this but honestly i think people should start looking at having a drivers license as a priviledge not a right and maybe common driving practices should improve.

[matt_p]

I agree on other things being more dangerous than cell phones. Likes kids in the back of a car. I see parents looking to the back seats very often. Thats worse than a cell phone.

Same with coffee, atleast you can juggle a phone between hands

If I make a call, its a quit one at a long traffic light I know. When my gf calls, I tell her I'm driving, I'll talk to her later.