Alberta passes distracted driving law

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I disagree there. As much as people delude themselves into thinking they can do any of those things and still have enough focus left on the road to see a cop around them, the truth is, they don't. If the cops are serious about enforcement, they will have no trouble catching violators.

Exactly. It's the morons that are so spaced out while texting or talking that are going to get caught. I spot people like this all the time. It should be no problem for cops to see people like this.
I'm sure there'll still be lots of people that will hold their phone (tinted back window?) or whip off a short text on a clear straightaway, and those competent people won't get busted because they're not raising any red flags.

But why are some of you people so damned stupid? Whining that this is just a cash cow or tripping out about coffee? How can you not see how awesome it will be when the dipsh*t in front of you who is swerving side to side with his head bobbing up and down gets pulled over and fined for texting and driving?
Yeah, yeah... It's just another way to make a quota. Damn whiners. Next thing you know they'll outlaw drunk driving or something. That'll be a huge cash cow. Forget about road safety, I'm pissed off that I'm no longer allowed to stare at the floor instead of the road!!

[3 Justin 3]

This isn't exactly distracted driving, but it is fundamentally the same; I never use 2 hands to drive. I always drive with one hand, almost exclusively. Not because I think it is cool, I just don't use two hands, usually got 1 arm out the window during the summer.

At least I can still eat a snack, would suck not to be able to eat some chips.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Exactly. It's the morons that are so spaced out while texting or talking that are going to get caught. I spot people like this all the time. It should be no problem for cops to see people like this.
I'm sure there'll still be lots of people that will hold their phone (tinted back window?) or whip off a short text on a clear straightaway, and those competent people won't get busted because they're not raising any red flags.

But why are some of you people so damned stupid? Whining that this is just a cash cow or tripping out about coffee? How can you not see how awesome it will be when the dipsh*t in front of you who is swerving side to side with his head bobbing up and down gets pulled over and fined for texting and driving?
Yeah, yeah... It's just another way to make a quota. Damn whiners. Next thing you know they'll outlaw drunk driving or something. That'll be a huge cash cow. Forget about road safety, I'm pissed off that I'm no longer allowed to stare at the floor instead of the road!!

I wasn't around when the seat belt laws came into effect but I can't help but think there were the same arguments. It's just another way for the police to hit quotas, I drive fine so why should I have to wear a seatbelt, etc.

Heck it may even be that way for drinking and driving? I'm fine when I drink so why can't I drive? Why punish everyone because some people can't handle their liquor?

I would dare say the vast majority of people wear seatbelts and drive sober. However, it seems that everyone has or does use their cell phone while driving. I know when I used to text and drive I'd pay more attention to my phone than the road. Therefore I stopped, in fact if I'm driving for longer than 20 minutes I'll turn the notifications on my phone off so I don't get the urge to check my phone. I know I'm a better driver for it.

I think that's why it boils down to. Making people better drivers. You can't drive well if you're not watching where you're going. I mean it's not like you're driving a piece of equipment worth 10's of thousands of dollars at speeds that human beings can't run.

This is a technology that didn't really exist 5 years ago, and now the world owes you something because you can't do it anymore? That you can't be negligent and drive? Sweet Moses get over yourself. Currently every summer in my hometown there are two memorial sports tournaments for charity in memory of kids that were in single vehicle accidents from texting and driving and died as a result. Let me repeat that

WE HAVE TWO MEMORIAL TOURNAMENTS IN MEMORY OF KIDS . . . KIDS . . . THAT WERE TEXTING, "DRIVING" AND KILLED THEMSELVES.

Seriously, this needs to stop.

[DownInFlames]

For those who think this law is just a "cash cow", do you really think police need more laws to enforce, when so many people don't follow the ones we have now? For a start, the number of people who don't signal properly (or at all) is ridiculous. If I was a traffic cop with a quota (assuming they really exist) I'd sit at pretty much any traffic circle and nab a ton of people who don't signal before exiting.

[Dion]

[Stay Golden]

might as well abolish all drive through fast food windows with all the details of this new law

[Stay Golden]

Originally Posted by DownInFlames

For those who think this law is just a "cash cow", do you really think police need more laws to enforce, when so many people don't follow the ones we have now? For a start, the number of people who don't signal properly (or at all) is ridiculous. If I was a traffic cop with a quota (assuming they really exist) I'd sit at pretty much any traffic circle and nab a ton of people who don't signal before exiting.

i would love to know the actual real number of police that are assigned to traffic duty vs police in patrol cars.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

might as well abolish all drive through fast food windows with all the details of this new law

You go to drive through windows to text, call people, read newspapers, apply make-up, and draw sketches?

[zamler]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

i would love to know the actual real number of police that are assigned to traffic duty vs police in patrol cars.

I would like to know where the patrol cars are. During the day, you rarely see a cruiser.

[ken0042]

I know a lot of the vehicles assigned to traffic look just like regular cars. There's even one that looks like a contractor's work vehicle- complete with a tool box in the back. You wouldn't even know it's a police car until he turns on his lights.

[Stay Golden]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

You go to drive through windows to text, call people, read newspapers, apply make-up, and draw sketches?

under the new law you are not allowed to eat or drink anything while driving. You are not allowed to even change a CD.

[DownInFlames]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

under the new law you are not allowed to eat or drink anything while driving.

Eating and drinking is still allowed. Read the FAQ here:

http://www.transportation.alberta.ca...tedDriving.htm

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

under the new law you are not allowed to eat or drink anything while driving. You are not allowed to even change a CD.

Incorrect. Eating and drinking is absolutely permitted.

As for changing a CD, I haven't seen anything specific that prohibits it. I imagine that it would be similar to fiddling with an MP3 player or GPS (which is included in the FAQ): do it while stopped and you're fine. Do it while weaving all over the road and you might attract a little attention from the po po.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by ken0042

I know a lot of the vehicles assigned to traffic look just like regular cars. There's even one that looks like a contractor's work vehicle- complete with a tool box in the back. You wouldn't even know it's a police car until he turns on his lights.

i saw that truck once, totally blew my mind. i can pick out an unmarked crown vic from a mile away, but those ghost trucks and SUV's always make me a bit paranoid. at least they haven't started using imports though, probably thanks to government contracts. being able to determine the make and model of a vehicle behind you is key to being a successful speeder these days

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

under the new law you are not allowed to eat or drink anything while driving. You are not allowed to even change a CD.

so you get all bent out shape about a new law without actually reading what it does and does not allow. you're as bad as those people that make ridiculous assumptions about an article posted on these forums without ever actually clicking on the link

[freedogger]

Originally Posted by DownInFlames

Read the FAQ here:

http://www.transportation.alberta.ca...tedDriving.htm

I noticed "personal grooming" was banned. If picking your nose while driving is forbidden, I'm going to have to turn in my license.

[Acey]

Originally Posted by pylon

Anything German pretty much does now, it is law over there.

We have a few lower end VW's where it is still optional, but I believe it is pretty much standard on any BMW, Benz, or Audi.

My Kia Forte has it, and they all do. I rarely make phone calls anyway so it's not of huge value to me, but it is pretty cool that you get in your car, after 5-10 seconds a Bluetooth symbol comes up on the radio, and you're all set to go.

What would be of actual value to me is a system where I could dictate text messages to the car, given that I make probably 5-10 phone calls a month but send/rcv thousands of texts.

[freedogger]

Originally Posted by Acey

My Kia Forte has it, and they all do. I rarely make phone calls anyway so it's not of huge value to me, but it is pretty cool that you get in your car, after 5-10 seconds a Bluetooth symbol comes up on the radio, and you're all set to go.

What would be of actual value to me is a system where I could dictate text messages to the car, given that I make probably 5-10 phone calls a month but send/rcv thousands of texts.

There's speculation that iphone5 will have voice activate sms features. Android does a little better in the voice to text area I think. Iphone4's OS won't allow text to speech from it's sms app. Apps like Drivesafe.ly are pretty cool but useless on the iphone 4.

"This safe driving solution is a program called DriveSafe.ly and it will allow you to listen to text messages while driving. It reads BBM and SMS aloud so you can avoid texting tickets and more importantly have a safe commute. You can also privately listen to text messages while driving by using your Bluetooth car-kit. After you listen to your text messages while driving, the accident avoiding app uses an Auto-Responder to tell the sender that you are unavailable, much like an out of office reply."

[ken0042]

What would be good is an app that gets turned on when your bluetooth is enabled- this app will auto reply to texts with something like "I am driving and will read your text when it is safe to do so."

That way getting people out of the habit of needing that instant reply to texts.

[Stranger]

It's probably mentioned earlier, but what about people with pets on their lap while they drive? To me thats as much of a distraction as holding a cell phone and talking.