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

[4X4]

Test must be rigged. I missed 8 as well. But I saw the waving bunny!

[mikey_the_redneck]

I think alot of people are over-analyzing the situation here........getting behind the wheel of your car is a risk every single time you do it. You can get in a collision from any number of situations, either by driver error/distractions, mechanical failure, bad weather, fatigue, pets, music, food etc....

It's too bad that people cannot use their (not-so) common sense here, so the government has to step in and remind us we are responsible for safe driving....

and to those saying..."well I can hold a phone up to my ear and still drive".. No........you can't, and it has been proven time and time again. You may "see" the road, but you are mentally distracted by the conversation you are having. Put your damn phone away.

This message has been brought to you by a person who does not own a cell phone.

[C-Life]

Originally Posted by mikey_the_redneck

This message has been brought to you by a person who does not own a cell phone.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by ikaris

Actually, I did have to go through the GDL program too (not because I'm young, but because of stupidity).

I would suggest that your poor experience has to do with the person granting the license instead of the rules. In my case, the person that was in the car had advised me to just drive like I would normally and we went through many turns and such in the NE including going on Barlow Tr, Mcknight Blvd, and Deerfoot Tr. He seemed like a reasonable guy and only commented on my speed once. It's certainly not perfect, but I remember how simplistic the initial testing for a license was over 10 years ago (pathetic!).

I guess my point is that I generally approve of the GDL program and that I don't have a problem with further rules being implemented for driving. Especially banning the use of cell phones and other potential distractions. This is probably the only thing that ignorant farmer ed has done in his entire time as Premier that even remotely resembles something that a sane person would do.

Well, thats interesting.

I almost got failed for being 3km/h too fast in a 60 zone. Twice.

I don't have a problem with the GDL program, provided the people running it aren't morons. Everyone who takes the second test has been driving for at least 2 years, often accident or demerit free. There is NO point in making them go through all the left turn/right turn crap again.

[Azure]

Also, I must admit.....I've never been in an accident, but I've been close a couple times.

I almost ran an old couple over once because I was fooling around with my mp3 player during high school.

Along with a few other things. All that were caused by some sort of distraction.

So yes, take away those distractions, and I go from being a very good driver, to be a GREAT driver.

[longsuffering]

Originally Posted by Azure

The funny thing, this GDL program is supposed to keep drivers from developing bad habits. And how do they test it? By making you take a million left turns in residential areas of a major city.

But I thought you were talking about Lethbridge???? Har, har!

[Azure]

Originally Posted by longsuffering

But I thought you were talking about Lethbridge???? Har, har!

Well, they technically refer to it as a 'major city.'

I can't take this test in Pincher Creek. Gotta take it in a major city where there is lots of traffic.

God forbid actually driving through traffic while I take the test.

[FlamesKickAss]

so to make sure I get my moneys worth of using my cell before the ban comes in, I went for a drive to post this message

[kevman]

Funny I think of this thread every time I use my bluetooth now... Yesterday when merging on to hwy 1 from hwy 22 I completely ignored the person on the other line while I shot the gap...so you're right I can't concentrate on both but thankfully I concentrate on driving?

That said, I did the test (without sound at work, so I wasn't even trying to listen to the conversation) and still managed to mess up counting and didn't see the bunny...

[ken0042]

Listening to QR on the way home they were talking about that horrible accident where the lady was crushed between her car and the door after driving into the pole...... and the one paramedic went on a mini-rant about not using a cell while driving.

Has anybody heard, was she killed while on the phone? If so, can you imagine the guilt the person she was talking to must be feeling right now?

[photon]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Listening to QR on the way home they were talking about that horrible accident where the lady was crushed between her car and the door after driving into the pole...... and the one paramedic went on a mini-rant about not using a cell while driving.

Has anybody heard, was she killed while on the phone? If so, can you imagine the guilt the person she was talking to must be feeling right now?

That was at a parkade downtown, she had opened her door to get out and put the ticket in or something. It's one with a pretty steep exit, and she must have forgot to put it park or something.

[expatflame]

Originally Posted by InCoGnEtO

I only read the first page, but this is just another case of too much govt. Seriously, these people should have to travel around the world and see how countries can go one without the government telling us how we are supposed to live. In Asia, people are maniac drivers, and there are little to few problems (no more in comparable Canadian cities).

#### this pisses me off. Get out of our lives!

Hahahahahahah! Well, obviously you haven't been to any asian cities. I can tell you first hand, there are many, many more problems compared to Canadian cities. Malaysia, Bangkok, China all have an obscene amount of roadside accidents and deaths. Malaysia has amongst the highest death tolls in the world per capita. I should know after living in those countries for the last 6 years . Bangkok nearly as bad and China is up there as well. http://www.factbook.net/EGRF_Regiona...siaPacific.htm

[expatflame]

Originally Posted by Azure

Absolutely I'm in favor of it. If there is data out there, data that comes from independent sources that says texting while driving kills people, or gets you into accidents, then YES, I say ban it while driving.

Yeah, I was going to bring this up. At least with talking on the phone, there is blue tooth and handsfree and your eyes are on the road. Texting is a far bigger problem while driving. I'm guilty of this myself

Sorry to bump up this thread. Just read through it today.

[starseed]

Kinda OT question, if I have a GDL license and move to Ontario, would I just recieve a standard license?

What happens when I move back to Alberta?