Updated: Tue Oct. 28 2008 7:55:47 PM

CTV.ca News Staff

The Ontario government tabled legislation that will ban text messaging and emailing while driving and force motorists to use hands-free, voice-activated equipment when making calls on their cellphones.

"We know these new technologies have created some tremendous conveniences," Transportation Minister told reporters on Tuesday. "But we know something else. Deep down, we all know it is dangerous to use them while driving."

Here's what is banned:

• cellphones, even at a stop light
• dialing
• BlackBerrys
• texting
• hand-held GPS

The OPP said it will start enforcing the new rules as soon as the government passes the legislation. If caught by police, drivers will face fines of at least $500 and demerit points.

"There are collisions attributable to it, and some fatalities. So it is a huge concern," said OPP Deputy Commissioner Larry Beechey.

"We've all had near-misses. I'm just as guilty as anyone else. Hands-free or not, talking on the phone is cognitively distracting," said Dr. Suzanne Strasberg of the Ontario Medical Association.

The Liberal government consulted police and the Insurance Bureau of Canada before drafting the legislation, Bradley said. He also brought a driving simulator to the news conference to demonstrate how distracting a cellphone can be.

The bill will first go to committee to be tweaked, but could become the law in a matter of months.

Newfoundland, Quebec and Nova Scotia have all recently introduced new guidelines to prevent drivers from using hand-held devices, while the governments of Manitoba and Prince Edward Island are considering similar legislation.

Cellphone bans for drivers are already in place in about 50 countries, including Australia, China, France, Kenya and Slovenia.

Contrary view

Despite the growing popularity of cellphone bans for motorists, the Canada Safety Council opposes the proposed new legislation.

Spokesman Emile Therien acknowledged Tuesday that talking on the phone is a distraction while driving.

However, he argued that most cellphone users would not comply with the law, which would in turn make it hard for police to enforce.

"I think it's just a case of feel-good legislation," Therien said during an interview on CTV Newsnet. "It makes people feel good but it really doesn't deliver tangible safety benefits."

Therien said that reckless drivers can already be charged and face fines and demerit points under the Highway Traffic Safety Act.

Therien also said a public awareness campaign would best inform motorists of the potential dangers of talking and texting while driving.

While nine-in-10 Canadian drivers don't approve of using a cellphone behind the wheel, more than half of them admit to using one while driving, according to a RBC Insurance/Ipsos Reid survey released this week.

In anticipation of widespread bans of electronic devices for drivers, North American car manufacturers are already building hands-free technologies right into new models.

With a report from CTV Toronto's Paul Bliss and files from The Canadian Press

Comments are now closed for this story

Norm
I saw no less than three police officers in Wndsor yesterday talking on their cell phones. I wonder, does the new law apply to those that enforce the law? Good examples, eh?

duck
This will be a good thing. People will now maybe pay attention to their driving------ unless the drivers just put the devices down out of sight and be more dangerous.
I have already refused to use my cell phone while on the road.

Dedo Vlado
Very good, they must do this ASAP!

Harvey
Will that include police,fire, ambulance and taxis? Will it also include your car radio? Where will it end? I'm all for saftey but, our freedome is slowly dissapearing. Are we becoming a police state?

EJ
It is about time. I am gulty of using my phone but I fully agree with this. After I saw an 18 wheel truck driver with a full load talking on a cell phone my opinion changed. My safety is worth more than a phone call.

Pierre from Kingston
No problem with these initiatives though they are very vague on the GPS issue. GPS are slowly becoming a must have item and are now "standard" in some upper models of vehicles.

Bee
What a farce. Police already have the authority to charge someone for careless control of a vehicle (such as when a cell phone would be distracting enough to a particular driver to present a danger).

Cops drive and type on their computers. The hypocrisy is laughable - to think that no one else on the planet can operate electronic devices safely while driving. Some can, some can't (go after the ones that can't). Are they saying cops are the only ones that can? If it's a matter of training, anyone could be required to have the same training.


Talking to a passenger (especially a child) is more destracting since many drivers can't seem to do so without looking at the passenger (instead of the road). Perhaps we should ban all passengers.

Funny they never consider the "lack of challenge" factor that keeps people alert while driving. Then we are left we the majority of drivers falling asleep at the wheel.

A study in the US showed that it was more dangerous to pull off to the shoulder of a busy highway to take a call and re-enter the highway than to actually take the call and tell the caller they will call back later.

Shamaro
To be honest, I think it would be a great idea. When driving around the GTA (especially in rush hour traffic) there are so many people out there who are either talking on their cell phones or they're texting others while driving.

Also, GPS devices are a hazard as well. I find that having one on your dash, you tend to watch that more than you watch the road.

This is also good, because so manynew drivers who do begin to drive, should learn how to drive, not learn how to tak on a cell phone and drive a car at the same time.

Gary from Ottawa
While I don't disagree with this bill, I really don't see it solving anything. I see all kinds off drivers doing stupid things like, putting on makeup, shaving, eating, reading the paper.

Also, the article doesn't mention whether GPS devices are included in the ban. I would prefer to use that device rather than trying to look at a map while driving. I would consider a GPS a hands free map.

will
while I agree that it could cause some problems while driving and using a hand-held phone,I beleive the bigger problem is that our government is becoming way too over-legislative and is bordering on becoming a "Draconian' government. We are losing too many of our fundamental freedoms whether it be from driving and smoking in our own car or back yard to even walking down the street whistling Dixie!! I see enough is enough. Just stop selling the cell phones and leave people and thier so-called freedoms alone!!

Ron
It's about time! What took so long?

Doug
Does/Should this legislation include CB Radios?

Doug
St. John's

Murray
Good. But it has to be enforced. I live in Nova Scotia where it was banned long ago. On any given day I can see people brazenly using cellphones in heavy traffic and I'm wondering even though the Legislation has been passed, are they waiting for an accident before it is really enforced. Otherwise it is nothing but a farce.

Cindy
It's about time!! What took them so long? This should have been done years ago.

James - Eh!
Its about time the province banned cellphone and blackberry usage while driving.

Not too sure about GPS systems. While playing with them while driving is definitely a distraction, if they are pre-programmed before setting out, they can add to safety as they give plenty of notice for lane changes and turns. There are few things worse than a driver who doesn't know where he/she is going, who makes unsignalled lane changes and stops while trying to figure out where he/she is.

Frank
TOTALLY AGREE!!!!!

Sam C
Harvey... I would share your concern about the "Police state" if it weren't for the fact that so many drivers seem to be paying more attention to electronic gadgets than the ROAD.

CYL
YES, IT IS ABOUT TIME !!!!
the sooner the better, implement immediately. In addition, if one of caught or be the cause of a result of harm to another because of use of these electronic items while operating anything, let their insurance be denied and criminal charges apply.

Tony
This is another reason why this government is not working for Ontarians. They wish to introduce banning of equipment like the blackberry because they ALL have drivers. Every single Minister and the Premiere and a whole slew of them have Drivers and do not need to worry about driving around.

My question is that if they are going to regulate the use of a headset for a cell phone, are they going to pick up the cost? I doubt it! Typical flip flopping of the Ontario government.

- A NON PROUD Ontarian

gregnb
They also need to ban people from driving with their stupid dogs hanging out the window of the drivers side. This to me is more dangerous than a cell phone. Why people think they need to have their dog on their lap while driving is beyond me.

John in Ottawa
If this new law can save at least one life on the roads, then I'm all for it!

Bob London
Ban Tim Hortons. Ontario drivers are idiots around the Ho's trying to cross 2 lanes and a turning lane, blocking intersections and jamming the brakes for the boat bildge you call coffee. I am more likely to run into a Ho client than a cellphone user. ...

Pete
I totally agree with the ban, however I believe it should also include the hands free models also. You are just not paying the proper amount of attention required, when having a conversation with someone on the phone, either to the driving or the conversation. It is so much safer to just pull over to the side of the road, make your call, and return to the road. However, I feel the one exception should be to those who think they are too good, and need to use their cellphones while driving. They should be allowed to make two calls. One, to call the police after they have slammed into somebody in an intersection after going through a red light, and the second to their lawyer to fight the case that they have just killed somebody in that accident.

To all those posters who feel that their freedom is being compromised by such government legislation, I would aks one question. How would YOU like to be crossing the street in the intersection when a car blows through a red light with the driver talking on a cellphone ....... I thought so!!!

Patrick
This is a needed law. A young mom was killed in our area a few years ago because of a teenager texting instead of paying attention to driving. That baby doesn't have its mother now, and the dad doesn't have his wife.
I'd be OK with a hands-free law as long as it also involved voice-dialing.

And x2 to the poster that brought up the issue of allowing dogs on their laps - that is a very dangerous situation. That should be introduced as a new law as well.

MIchael (Ottawa)
A day doesn't go by that I don't see a young woman driving with a cell phone screwed to her ear yacking away not paying attention while she tailgates you and is oblivious to the potential danger they are in by following too closely.

This should have been done years ago. A day late and a dollar short seems to be the norm for Premier McGuinty. The Premier should be dealing with the economy as he was totally unprepared for this credit crisis and its effects on Ontarians.

Mandy, Halifax
We here in Nova Scotia have had this law into effect for quite some time now but I constantly still see drivers yakking it up on their cells while driving, the police do catch some but the majority will still get away with it. The only way this might work is if cell phone manufacturers develope a cell phone where the steel from a vehicle will interfere with phone signals making these devices inoperable while driving. If I need to use my cell for emergency reasons I pull over and get out of my car all together, I've had police cars pass by me and wave.

QT1
They better NOT be touching my dash mounted GPS system.... or they will get a fight from voters.

Ray St. Louis Jr.
It's about bloody time! Although, this is probably being orchestrated in a way that will inject money into the industry (i.e. hands-free devices such as Bluetooth) but studies in Europe have proved that these devices are not effective and pose just as much of a risk than hand-held devices. We'll wait until everyone spends their money, then take away the hands-free as well.

10-78
Norm. Were those Police on personal cell phones or Police issue cell phones? Were they responding to a call or conducting an investigation? It is only an assumption on your part that they are not leading by example. There are exceptions to every rule. Would you rather have police pull over and stop for all dispatched calls and increase their response times? Obviously emergency response employees would be excluded from this law if conducting business.

KJ in Kingston Ontario
Another stupid law I will have to ignore. Having GPS assistance in unfamiliar areas of the province is far safer than driving without it. On every trip to Toronto before it was available I found myself in at least one dangerous situation attempting to locate a proper highway exit. I feel 10 times safer knowing where I am rather than having to cut across four of five lanes at the last second to reach the necessary off ramp. I would never think of driving in the GTA without it.

MP.
I applaud this ban. However it brings up an interesting point of semantics.

The ban applies to an action of physically holding a device (such as a cellphone) and talk while driving.

We're not banning the device, but the action.

So in that case, it would stand reason to ban holding a coffee, talk and drive.

There's holding food, talking and driving.

I could hold a yellow rubber duck in my hand, talk and drive and in theory such action could be deemed illegal.

Hmmm...there's gonna be a long lineup at traffic court in the next few months.

shoe
Might as well add that women should not be allowed to do their makeup while driving. Everyday I see women driving while looking in their rearview mirror applying their lipsstick, and eye shadow, etc... Now, tell me this isn't distracting...

Tekneex
I don't understand the bit the guy is saying about headsets. It's no different than having someone next to you in the car while driving. What are they going to do next? Ban passengers? That part is silly since many phones come with voice dialing as well. The majority of the calls in a car are incoming ones anyway.

Next cup holders will be banned I bet? In Germany they don't have them in cars because it's illegal to drink anything and drive from what I heard.

Are radios and CDs next?

Socialism is killing us
More Liberal social engineering. Ontario is becoming the laughing stock of Canada. Thanks Dalton.

The next problem
The next major issue will be the number of accidents from all the cars entering back onto busy highways after using their cell phones....

McGuinty and friends need to think this one out

Russ
Just what we need, another law that appears to fix something that ain't broke! What ever happened to "Careless Driving" (driving without due care and attention) as already found in the Ontario Highway Traffic Act?

Prof. Pye Chartt
Like everybody, I've tangled with the erratic zombie-like driving of someone using a cell phone, on numerous occasions. Annoying, to be sure. Mortally dangerous and a major public "safety" issue? No.

This legislation is just another piece of populist junk pushed down the slippery slope of government parenting, which has no end (especially during times of left-wing governments). Years ago, Ontario imposed a helmet law for bicycle riders (adults were exempted at the last minute); despite the fact that the underlying public issue, province-wide, was profoundly minor, as generations of children had/have ridden a bicycle without cracking their coconut. (Aside: At the time, countering the idea to include adults was the factual notion that helmets would save more lives if automobile drivers wore them.)

The slippery slope was greased years ago, so, we can all anxiously await the next over-protective law to remove potential danger, carelessness, and stupidity from society.

Elizabeth, Ontario
We're getting way too much government in our lives! I fully agree that cell phone use is dangerous while driving and those who do so should be charged with careless/dangerous driving. Isn't this the Liberal way? Instead of going after the abusers, just go after everyone. Where does it end?

roy cotton
with the economy in the shape its in and all the government of ontario can do is curtail the use of cellphones,they sure have too much spare time.

Kenny behinsd the wheel
Is the McGuinty government even capable of introducing legislation for anything but "bans"? So far, ALL they have done is ban, ban, attempted ban, ban and ban...

Soon Ontarians will live in a world where everything that is not compulsory, is forbidden.

The existing statutes on dangerous driving are adequate.

QEW Driver
I do agree with this. I commute 45 min each way to work every day and see way too many people with a cellphone attached to their ears, ignoring what is going on around them.
However, if this new law can't be enforced - what's the use?

Robin the Hood
about time!..

Enough "Nanny" Non sense
I will use my GPS unit with the built in bluetooth handsfree and if he doesn't like it
- TOUGH NOOGIES Dalton!

Toofast2
I wonder how much the Liberal government is going to give me for my GPS system? Or my MP3 player (that plugs into my radio)? This is just another cash grab from the pathetic Liberals...

I agree that handsfree is a good idea when driving, but where does it stop? Maybe they should ban CB's and radios too, they could be considered a distraction by some people. Hell, maybe we should ban EVERY option available on new cars and get back to the basics like in the old Model T's, there weren't any distractions on those, except for the manual windshield wipers.

They could even go as far as not allowing any brightly coloured cars on the road, or billboards on the highways. If every car looked the same it wouldn't distract other drivers.

I have a great idea...instead of banning every possible distraction why don't we toughen the licensing requirements for new drivers and have a mandatory Federal driver training course. We have driver training companies that I won't name, but that cater to "Young Drivers" that teach new drivers to immediately merge to the center lane when entering the highways, regardless of speed. This is a greater safety issue than having a GPS in the car.

I have clocked over a million accident free miles in the last 19 years, all while driving and using a CB, Satellite Communications, Cassette Player, CD Player, MP3 Player, GPS (and the old paper maps), and yes, even on a cell phone...

My point is that as we evolve, the world evolves with us, just like cruise control and ABS. We need to focus on better driver training to start with. If you take a cell phone away from a bad driver, it doesn't make him a good driver....

Well, that's my piece...

fitzz
BEE's comment, above, hits the nail squarely on the head!!

This is yet another example of a McGuinty move: the pretense of action on an issue of topical interest, when nothing other than the enforcement of existing law is required.

More smoke & mirrors!

Steve in Ottawa
It's an idea which I endorse BUT you cannot legislate against stupidity.

I know of an adult who died in a car accident as the result of driving and reaching for some fries which he had just purchased.

Jonny of the RCR
Unbelievable..... Obviously no one should be sending email while driving (with the exception maybe of a bumper to bumper traffic jam) Same goes for text messaging, but these indiscretions should be dealt with via laws already in place (such as careless driving) if I'm talking on a cell phone and still driving better than half of the idiots on the road who drive 10km/h below the speed limit, why should I have to pay a fine? Is Dolt not sucking enough money from our province??? A waste of tax dollars to create new laws which revoke our freedoms, when laws are already in place to deal with those that actually cause traffic hazards

NO CELL in N.S. and proud of it!!
To the poster" who claims its not safer to pull over and take the call then try to get back in traffic." When my phone rings and I'm driving I don't answer it; then for the sake of two minutes or so I pull into a safe area and since most numbers show up on my phone I call them back. Its call DON'T ANSWER IT. By the way a hint for those of you watching someone yakking while driving, I memorize their license then phone police later and tell them directions, license,car, etc...what do the police do, say "thank you" and send a car around that area. Do I feel sorry for them, NOT a chance!! Call me a rat if you want; my sister had police knock on her door when a dumbie on the cell hit her son! The conversation was about a coworker's hair.

Mark
I'm a Canadian living in NY where there has been a hands-free law for a few years. Take it from experience, the only problem hands free addresses is text messaging and e-mailing. It does nothing for talking on the phone. It is not holding the device while talking that is the problem, it is the conversation itself. When talkign with someone who is in your car, they see the environment you are reacting to when slowing down, etc. But when it is a phone conversation, it is as if you're not in the vehicle yourself. As one CTV report mentioned last week, a guy drove home for 45 mins and coudln't recall anything from the drive except his phone call. I use a hands free, but I wouldn't object to banning all use of electronic devices in a vehicle unless you're parked.

Quincy
amen.
most people can't use the vcr and tv remote together let alone drive and talk.
much needed, long overdue.

No the police need to set up a hotline to report it.

Elisa
If your a bad driver, your a bad driver.. Talking on a cell phone doesn't impair your ability to watch the road.. Last time I checked my eyes aren't attached to my tongue!!

Enforce existing laws....
Enforcement of existing laws is all that is required...

We don't need another piece of legislation, wasting our money and just more legislation making our already overburdened legalistic lives more unbearable.

McGuinty and his cronies must go.

B. Kelley, Ontario
I agree with banning the use of hand held cell phones but, what I don't understand, is why we will continue to allow truckers to yap incessantly on their CB's with hand held microphones. An 18 wheeler, hurtling down the highway at their usual 120 Km/hr is a much more deadly vehicle than a car or van. Maybe they think that collective drooling over the blonde with the short skirt in the Mercedes is less distracting than a sales call.

JP in Ontario
I think this is brilliant, and long overdue!! I have a bluetooth headset that I use for when I am driving, and that is only for receiving phone calls. If I really have to Make a call, i wait until I am stopped to initiate it. I dont know how many times I have nearly been taken out by a driver mindless nattering on their phone rather than driving. As for the GPS issue, I am sure that there will need to be some classification, and clarification, such as audio instructions are okay etc, but it will come. As for police, fire, etc, unless they are emergency calls...which are usually on their radio, it should apply to them as well. A guy on the radio this morning said it should be mandatory to have a system in all new cars by some date to allow for this...To that guy I say, this is not a worldwide issue yet, go buy a headset, or turn your phone off, we cant expect manufacturers to change their cars for one small market. Nice idea though should more markets pick up on it, just not widespread enough for that yet.

whats next???????
it will never stop at this rate. whats next?????? to norm: no this willl not apply to the cops,EMS ect...

Nnaumbua Farrell
What difference is there from the distraction caused by talking to someone on the cell phone and the distraction caused by someone talking to a passenger in their car? Surely you would agree that they are both distractions.

And if they are both distractions, why not ban conversations with passengers to boost road safety as well?

What about the distraction caused by intently listening and responding (in your mind or out loud) to a very interesting conversation on the radio "Oh gimme a break!" or "yes, that's right!"?

What about the distraction caused by listening and responding to your favourite song on the radio (come on, admit it, we all like singing along). That's listening and responding similar to cell phone onversation.

What if some study shows that radio listening and passenger conversations are indeed just as or even more distractiong than cell phone use?

If you want to ban cellphones for safety, be warned that you are opening the door to bans on alot of other things on the same grounds.

We cannot live risk free existences, and i'm not saying that there should absolutely never be any safety regulation but if there is, let's be aware of the potential consequences. I really don't think this has been thought through.

Melissa
I disagree with those that say that a headset is no different than having someone sitting next to you. A passenger in the car can see what's going on, and often times will know enough to be quiet when you're stressed or in dangerous areas that require extra concentration. A person on the other end of the phone can't know when you need to concentrate. This bill is great - SO tired of missing full green lights and advance greens because of people that are too busy texting to drive. Recently I was behind a lady in a huge SUV who was making a left hand turn...she was on the phone and not strong enough to make the turn one handed, so she just STOPPED MID -INTERSECTION AND KEPT ON YAPPING. Things like this happen all time in the GTA...and noone is so important that they can't wait the few minutes to pull over somewhere safe to make/answer a call.

Phil
It is a good initiative. There are comments questioning if this ban applies to police, fire, and so on. In order to improve ourselves and the situation, let's focus on ourselves and do what we can. It's one step. It is common that people try to look around and find excuses not to change.

GPS IS FOR SAFETY
GPS should not be included in the ban if it is a ban on all electronic devices. They are drivers aid to navigate specially in unknown places. Some can act as a safety net because it warns you of constructions ahead, etc. I say they should be mandatory for that reason in all vehicles. As for cellphones and alike, yup ban them all.

J.C.
Norm:
While on duty police are exempt from traffic laws.
This being said I would like to point out that I have seen many officers swerving back and forth in the lane while using their computers etc. I even saw one once cross over the center line while I was driving behind them. However I have also seen many police officers who drive well while using these instruments.
Therefore it is my belief that banning the use of such items is not the answer. It is the individual - some can drive safely using these items and some cannot!! I took an insurance test via the internet that was designed to see your response times while using several items and drinking etc while driving, and I had excellent response times, especially since their test was set up so that when sipping on a cup the cup was held much higher than one would hold it while drinking it and doing other things, that's for sure.
My point is that it is not the cell phones etc. that are the cause, It is the driver. Some people can multi-task and others cannot. This is just another unenforceable law and we already have too many laws as it is. Those that say we have laws in place already are absolutely correct!
And by the way, I rarely use my cell phone, which is already hands free anyway. I cannot comment on GPS as I do not have one, however I would imagine that would hold to the same situation.

DR
It's sad that people have to be forced to do the safe thing. Mandating common sence has become the norm in todays society. i agree with the law, it's just too bad laws like this have to be drafted in the first place. Let the government do your thinking for you.

J.C.
I'd like to add to my comment earlier. Texting while driving is absolutely ridiculous and definitely a hazard!!!!

Michelle
Sorry, I see lots of stupid remarks about cops using cell phones.
... the cops aren't the ones making the laws.
Its their jobs to enforce them. Get it right.

For what its worth, they are people too and have the same opinions about how stupid a law it would be. Unfortunately that isn't something that is up to them.

How come people are so ignorant? Should be a law against it.

Steve G
Just goes to show that sometimes governments have to legislate what should be common sense.

Andy
I'm too busy watching movies in my car to use the cell phone.

Nnaumbua Farrell
Mellisa said:

"A passenger in the car can see what's going on, and often times will know enough to be quiet when you're stressed or in dangerous areas that require extra concentration. A person on the other end of the phone can't know when you need to concentrate."

Talking to passengers is less of a distraction than talking to someone on a cell phone because passengers can know to be quiet depending on the road conditions. So would talking on cell phones be ok so long as it is done in areas that don't require alot of the driver's concentration?

And also, should conversations with passengers be banned in areas that require alot of a driver's concentation? Should you be ticketed for having a conversation with a passenger in a construction zone?

Norm
10-78

Police have radios to be dispatched from, not cell phones. They are no different from anybody else when it comes to paying attention to traffic, are they? What's good for us is good for them...period! Safety first.

Norma Penny - Wasaga Beach
There are many distractions for a driver of a vehicle. Let's not put the blame on electronic devices, put the blame on the driver who is not paying attention.

Drivers are constantly faced with distractions such as billboards and talking to passengers in their vehicles, listening to the radio or CD player. Even attractive members of the opposite sex or great looking vehicles driving beside you is a distraction.

Legislating electronic devices will provide a hardship for those who's office is their car. There is no difference between taking a business call while driving and talking to a passenger. You cant take away every distraction that could possibly cause a driver to loose focus on his or her driving.

DANIEL H
I got rid of my cellphone because people expected me to answer no matter what I was doing and made comments specifically about this because I refused to answer. There are many drivers who do not drive correctly regardless of cellphone use such as failing to signal turns and lane changes. The ones holding a cellphone to their ear are worse. It’s interesting that the local city police can frequently be seen talking on a cellphone while driving. They break the same driving rules as everyone else. What’s so important that the conversation can’t wait?

marvin
I agree with Harvey below - once they're in our vehicle, then what else can't we do?
Can I eat a McD's junior hamburger one-handed?

Jeez - shifting gears manually can be a distraction for new drivers. Maybe they will ban stick shifts now?

Good ol' Liberal Dalton - he lied when he got in, introduced more taxes (health care premium), tried to eliminate the <$4 no PST on food; southwestern Ontario's economy is faltering, we are losing thousands of manufacturing jobs and yet where is he?
Have you seen him? What is he doing?

He's been thinking about you talking in your car...and not about the officer behind you typing you up on his computer while driving.

Concerned Driver.
I completely agree with this new law, I see more and more stupid things happen on the road due to electronic devices i actually saw one person the other day on his laptop on the 401 which looked like doing something for work, i also get cut off on smaller streets by people swerving into the lane and not realizing they switched lanes due to texting or talking on the phone, if people really need to talk on their phones or be on their laptops ect.. then pull over. is safetly and other peoples lives not worth anything anymore to people?
Also most newer cars come with a hands free device in the car where u hook up the gps or phone and able to talk on speaker and hear the other person through u're car speakers, and i know all phones are voice activated for dialing a number. Sorry i get annoyed and heated just cause i have had some family members get hit by somone due to electronic use while driving.

J. Menes
Thank goodness Nana McGuinty and his friends are around to tell us what to do and to conquer the real tough issues to keep us safe from our own decisions. uh huh.

LDL Western ONT
I agree ! Way too may cars on the road not to implement the ban, no choice in the matter anymore. Personally I choose not to own a cellphone, an i-pod, a GPS, nor do I turn on the radio or play a CD, so my driving experiences tend to be relaxed, peacefull and stress free. Give it a try !

Nick, Ottawa
I'm all for it! I use and love my phone constantly, but I also have a bluetooth-enabled car. As soon as I start it, all calls are routed through the stereo system. It is by far one of the best features I have ever had in a vehicle.

It may only reduce accidents by like 2%, but I say ban hand-helds, and at least that's mroe in the arsenal of police to get drivers with!

Greg in Cambridge
And having a booming stereo
you can hear for 20 blocks blaring out of open windows is ok?
That distracts more than just the idiot person making the noise.

mike
Don't cops use hand-held devices to communicate? Whatever if I need to call someone for directions i'll take the fine. I know I drive worse with a cellphone and don't do it often but if I am wondering where I'm going I'm a much worse driver than if I'm on a phone. Just look out for people driving carelessly with a phone.

Paul Mitchell
Paul
To all of you that think that banning hands free devices should think, when you have to look at a highway sign and say what did that say while trying to read it at 100km should think of the bennifit of GPS talking to you and telling you when to turn can save lives. As for hands free Cell phones what is the diffrence form talking to the passanger and on that. Maybe we should implant a communications device in your head that allows you to communicate with each other, then when teleportation is avail we will not have to worry. Lets not take all the freedoms away from us. Take the money we pay for the drivers that the decission makers have, and give all people a hands free device instead. Lets put our money into ventures that will make all lives affordable (GAS) instead of waisting it on things like this. Money grabs with tickets. Let the police worry about real policing instead.

Mike Brampton, Ontario
This is another way of getting money out of people. They know that the majority of us use cell phones while we drive, whether it an emergency, or if it’s for directions from a friend. I called in an intoxicated driver while I was driving. I guess since were not allowed to be using cells phones anymore, ill just ignore any drunk drivers and pay attention to the road. This is just another stupid law that cops could hit their quota with. What’s next, no sneezing while driving?

Heather
Re: the comment about banning women putting on make-up: Don't get sexist or so will I.

How about banning MAN who drove down Martingrove reading the *full* Toronto Star - open across the steering wheel???

How about the MAN with his interior light on driving down the 401 Sunday night from Kingston reading a novel open on the steering wheel???

How about the MAN who was obviously a teacher going 80km up the 400 one morning marking papers on his steering wheel???

There are LOTS of things people do in a car that distract from driving.

Cheryl Verellen
RIDICULOUS & ABSURD...along with another stupid law...we don't need it !!! There were or still are, I'm not sure anymore...cardboard cops with radar guns posted along highways and/or streets in order to slow drivers down! What is this WORLD coming too? Can someone please explain our rights here? Laws and more laws...who needs all those imposed anyways? We need a licence to drive and if we break any road rules then ticket us as such...don't impose upon us what is NOT NECESSARY!!!