Not all music to the ears
Email
Print
Letter to Editor
Share
Updated: November 04, 2009 12:21 AM
Fletcher Park is bereft of children playing on this cold, grey Sunday afternoon, but I’m uncertain if the guy ahead of me knows this. Or if he even notices my family in his rear-view mirror, following his great white pickup truck in our little Toyota.
His focus, it appears, is not on the road, but on the gadget in his hand held up at eye level.
I was surprised and impressed when the pickup slowed down to the posted 30 kilometres. Few ever do, even when the park is packed. Once I tuned into what the real holdup was over, I realized this was a prime example of why the province is planning to ban the use of cell phones while driving.
I imagine cellular networks were peaking with debate when B.C. Solicitor General Kash Heed introduced the new bill that will make hand-held calls while driving illegal come February 2010.
“Sucka’s!” I shouted in response to the news, heard over the radio during my morning drive to work. I recalled the symptoms I’ve seen of cell phone-dependent drivers and blue-toothed cyborgs putting the pedal to the metal. Most common is turning signal neglect. This is often accompanied by reckless swerving. In more developed cases, symptoms include temporary blindness to pedestrians, cyclists and to brake lights on the vehicle ahead. A law to ban hand-held cell phone use while driving, for both calls and texting, may not be a cure for such bad behaviour but, I thought, it’s not a bad start.
My appreciation for the ban hit redial, however, when I learned the use of MP3 players is included.
This one hit home, for I happen to be one of those, um, bathroom singers. Only, instead of the bathroom, I sing in the car. The iPod goes in its dock, it’s set for the music I want, I start the car and go. It’s essentially hands off, except for the odd fast forward. There have been trips between Salmon Arm and Sicamous where I’ve given myself a sore throat. No, I don’t pretend to hold a mic, bang my head up and down, press on the gas or anything irresponsible. Or so I thought. It turns out the top distractions for drivers, according to a recent ICBC survey, are food and drink, followed by singing, and then talking on a cell phone.
FYI, distraction number four is picking your nose. I’ve witnessed the driver’s window flick on several occasions, and would be happy to see this charming habit outlawed as well.
Last week, Ontario became the fifth province to ban cell phone use while driving. Manitoba, B.C. and Saskatchewan are following suit. The political drive to limit gadget distraction is clear. Since there’s no ban on singing in the car yet, I’m doubtful my behaviour will change, iPod or no.
I am looking forward to seeing how other B.C. drivers respond to the ban come February. My guess is that most will comply. Other drivers, I expect, will give up their cell phones only when they’re pried from their cold, dead hands.
v2
