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Hand held cell phones to be banned in vehicles in BC

by eastvanray | August 27, 2009 at 10:39 am

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Although we already have a law in place that police can use (driving with undue care and attention) drivers who are probably bad drivers when not talking on their cell now will be completely prohibited. Last week I saw a woman driving on a busy downtown Vancouver street in rush hour EATING A BOWL OF NOODLES that she had rested on her lap. I noticed her because she was driving like someone who was completely intoxicated (weaving in and outr of her lane and slowing and speeding up for no reason). It is a shame that good drivers will be inconvenienced by this new law but it has to stop somehow.

I do have one question though; will the ban apply to police, ambulance, fire fighters, cab drivers and bus drivers? I heard that police, at least, will not have to abide by this new law. I understand the need for police to be in contact with their dispatch but with all the distractions already involved when police are speeding through traffic and blowing red lights isn't it just common sense to force them to use hands-free too? And if texting is really that dangerous (which I believe it is) then how much more dangerous is it to use a laptop while driving as most police currently do.

It's time for B.C. drivers to put down the phone when they get behind the wheel.

That's the message from Solicitor-General Kash Heed.

Proposed legislation outlined in Tuesday's throne speech would recommend a ban on hand-held cellphone use while driving, Heed said Wednesday. Experienced drivers would still be able to use a hands-free device.

A complete ban on text messaging and e-mailing will also be recommended.

New drivers in the graduated-licensing program would be barred from all phone use under the proposed legislation.

"Details of the legislation will be provided when it is introduced, and the timing is up to the house leader," Heed said in an e-mail.

The announcement comes in the wake of public pressure for a ban, including calls from the B.C. Safety Council, the B.C. Medical Association and B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police.