Cell phone ban would help make province’s roads safer
Critics of a proposed ban on talking on a cell phone while driving who say such regulations could cause more crashes “are idiots,” according to the letter writer, who experienced a ban Down Under.
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Updated: July 16, 2009 12:15 PM
The Editor,
Re. “Cell phone ban backed by province’s top traffic cop” (The Tri-City News, July 10).
After reading your article about a cell phone ban I could not resist sending this comment.
People who say such restrictions may cause more crashes are idiots and nothing but armchair critics.
I just returned from Australia last year after four years there on company assignment. That country has had a law against cell phone use in automobiles for a few years now and the Australians rely 10 times more on their mobile phones since land lines are very expensive.
Aussie cops give out a heavy fine and points against your driver’s license if they catch you driving and talking on your cell phone. They even take pictures at intersections where cars are stopped for a red light, and send fines.
I commuted daily for four years and rarely did I see anyone using a cell phone in the car.
Here, it is a nightmare — people texting or whatever on cell phones — and I have had many close calls in the last year, and most of the other drivers turn out to have a cell phone to their ear.
You can’t stop people from using hands-free phones, for the most part, but at least their hands are on the steering wheel and some attention is being paid to the road. As for this garbage about using GPS, loading a CD player, etc., yes, they are as dangerous as will but the usage is minimal compared to the cell phone use in cars.
I have a company Blackberry with me turned on when I drive but I will not answer it and, if I must, I pull over and return the call — even to my wife.
Its time they take a look at other countries’ systems and adapt. This is out of control here in Metro Vancouver.
Wolfgang Wagner, Port Coquitlam
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