Alberta govt to ban the use of cell phones and other driver distractions

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Dion

What about the drivers that are affect by thier stupidity?

Why should we be forced to endure the actions of said driver?

I dread the thought of my vehicle ending up in a body shop because of some stupid driver.

Next up, banning stupid driver.

Welcome to the nanny state. Where people aren't told to be responsible for their own damn actions.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by C-Life

^^ Or just get bluetooth. My car came with it installed in my steering wheel. It is absolutely the way to go.

You have an ugly avatar.

You're biased.

Just kidding. Bluetooth is the way to go. And in regards to safety issues, I agree that talking and driving, or texting and driving, or basically doing anything while driving is STUPID. And it DOES lead to accidents.

But nobody has explained to me how the police are going to go about enforcing the law that people can't even touch the frickin' GPS without getting pulled over.

Or they can't text....which is fine, but very hard to enforce, unless the police have x-ray vision.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by twotoner

It won't be long before you will have cctv cameras at key locations filming you talking and grabbing your plate for later processing. Think I'm taking this too far - look to the UK right now. Taking it too far would be Telus, Rogers etc forwarding on a weekly basis lists of all phones that were active at a certain speed for police to cross link to highway cameras and see if said phone was the single occupant in a vehicle.

Thanks, but no.

I'm alright with having your records shown when you're involved in an accident, especially one that kills people.

But we don't need frickin' CCTV cameras at key locations filming people and having those films stored on a government database.

On another note, people are calling this fascist. Fascism is when the government sets up corporations for private gain but makes society as a whole suffer the corporations losses. Bailing out AIG was fascist, how does banning cell phones in cars help corporations?

I agree. Bailing out AIG was fascist, especially using the motto 'to big to fail.' It goes against the whole idea of a capitalist society, and it stops the smaller companies that didn't screw up like AIG screwed up from stepping in and taking over.

Which is exactly how our economy should operate. But, I don't like the idea of CCTVs. That a government agency has access to all that information is not a good idea.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by The Ditch

I'm for this 100%, I try not to use my phone while I'm driving, I know I'm a worse driver when I'm on my cell and driving.

I'm also a worse driver when I have my music on full volume and I'm singing along like a manic.

Apparently, so was the idiot in front of me yesterday as well.

Ban music in the cars next?

[The Ditch]

Originally Posted by Azure

I'm also a worse driver when I have my music on full volume and I'm singing along like a manic.

Apparently, so was the idiot in front of me yesterday as well.

Ban music in the cars next?

Maybe we should allow driving under the influence as well, it can be less dangerous than talking on a cell phone and driving.

[Agamemnon]

Originally Posted by Azure

I'm also a worse driver when I have my music on full volume and I'm singing along like a manic.

Apparently, so was the idiot in front of me yesterday as well.

Ban music in the cars next?

If they can prove that listening to music while driving is similar to drunk-driving (like they did with cell phones), then yes, ban music in cars.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by The Ditch

Maybe we should allow driving under the influence as well, it can be less dangerous than talking on a cell phone and driving.

It probably COULD be less dangerous.

If someone is at .81% alcohol, are they a more dangerous driver than the idiot who doesn't watch the road because his gf is sexting with him?

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Agamemnon

If they can prove that listening to music while driving is similar to drunk-driving (like they did with cell phones), then yes, ban music in cars.

Listening to 'loud' music.

I doubt listening to music at a normal level is any more distracting than talking to the guy riding shotgun. Or talking on your bluetooth.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Such as?

"Unfair" wasn't quite the word I was looking for, but nothing else was popping into my head.

Such as, adjusting the cruise control, adjusting the stereo, ejecting a CD, looking at the address you've written down, giving a swat to the kids in the backseat, and to a lesser extent, even things that are part of driving, like performing a shoulder check, checking the mirrors, lining your car up in between cars to merge, etc.

All of these things distract you from the road ahead, whereas talking on a cell phone doesn't even necessarily distract you from the road ahead.

Banning cellphone use is a little bit like treating the symptom, instead of the cause.

Instead of coming out with this new law, just use the law that already exists to deal with the same thing, maybe even making a clarification in the law that cellphone use (and other things) can easily cause drivers to not drive with the care and attention that they need - make it a special point of emphasis, or something like that. And allow the subpoena of cell phone records in crashes if a distraction such as that is suspected.

The goal is to make everyone a better driver. You do this by teaching them how to drive properly, not by banning cellphones.

Like I said before, talking on cellphones certainly is an issue that needs to be looked at. Far too many people do it in dangerous situations, and something needs to be done about it. However an outright ban isn't required.

[Pastiche]

Originally Posted by Azure

Listening to 'loud' music.

I doubt listening to music at a normal level is any more distracting than talking to the guy riding shotgun. Or talking on your bluetooth.

Show us the data.

[Wookie]

Wow, I'm amazed how many people think this is a bad thing. I've been doing it more and more as a cell phone becomes part of my life. I've only been using one for 3 years yet I find it's becoming more and more of a habit. When it's a habit I do it while driving. It'll buzz and I'll answer, or read, or reply without even thinking about it.

Sometimes if I'm in traffic I realize and try to stop - but generally I'll do it. I've been waiting for a law to come and make me stop. Or give me good reason to stop. I think I'm a great driver. I think I can use my phone and decently drive - but common sense tells me I'm being foolish.

I love how all of a sudden our phone calls and text messages and updates to friends/family on when we're going to arrive became so important. Like I leave my house and I HAVE TO UPDATE someone that I'm late. Jesus, what was I doing 3.5 years ago that was so unimportant that I didn't need to update people, or talk to someone.

I'm sorry, my phone calls and messages are equally as unimportant as most other peoples and I shouldn't be allowed to think otherwise while I'm driving, nor should anyone else.

I'm looking forward to the time when I can say if someone calls me while driving "call me when you're home/work/out of car" and they won't think I'm being weird. I'm also looking forward to ignoring calls and texts and replying later "sorry I was in the car" I don't do it now because it's a bad habit.. however today I will start trying to not do it at all.

[Devils'Advocate]

Originally Posted by Azure

Welcome to the nanny state. Where people aren't told to be responsible for their own damn actions.

This again? Are *YOU* for making drinking and driving legal? Where is your line drawn? Or is there one?

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

This again? Are *YOU* for making drinking and driving legal?

No, where did I say that.

I'm not for banning stupid people from driving.

Banning stupid things like drinking and driving, texting, cell phone use, etc, etc....sure.

But not banning stupid people.

[Devils'Advocate]

I didn't get my edit in in time before you responded. My question was how do you draw the line between what is "nanny state" and not?

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

I didn't get my edit in in time before you responded. My question was how do you draw the line between what is "nanny state" and not?

If there is conclusive data collected and shown that proves that texting while driving is dangerous(duh)....make a law.

But don't go out and approve more rigorous standards to the driving test simply to weed out all the stupid people.

Which is what the government has already done with the moronic GDL program.

[Agamemnon]

Originally Posted by Azure

Listening to 'loud' music.

I doubt listening to music at a normal level is any more distracting than talking to the guy riding shotgun. Or talking on your bluetooth.

If it is proven that listening to loud music is as distracting as being drunk, then yes, make listening to music in your car too loud a ticketable offense. There are stuides proving cell use is dangerous, so far I don't think there are studies showing the same about loud music. Find some and make the debate worthwhile.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

All of these things distract you from the road ahead, whereas talking on a cell phone doesn't even necessarily distract you from the road ahead.

Stopped reading right there.

There is study after study after study proving that talking on a cell phone DOES distract you while driving.

Your entire post is based on flawed thinking.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Stopped reading right there.

There is study after study after study proving that talking on a cell phone DOES distract you while driving.

Your entire post is based on flawed thinking.

All I said in that sentence is that many other distractions actually take your eyes away from the road. Holding a cell phone up to your ear does not.

I don't see how you can disagree with that.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Azure

Next up, banning stupid driver.

Next up, regular tests of your driving skills.

Welcome to the nanny state. Where people aren't told to be responsible for their own damn actions.

Have drivers shown they can be responsible for thier own actions? Nope!

Educating the masses isn't working as people still do things that distract them while driving. Like children we have to set laws to protect them from thier stupidity.

[ikaris]

Originally Posted by Azure

If there is conclusive data collected and shown that proves that texting while driving is dangerous(duh)....make a law.

But don't go out and approve more rigorous standards to the driving test simply to weed out all the stupid people.

Which is what the government has already done with the moronic GDL program.

Why not though? I think there should be more rigorous standards based on what we see on the roads daily.