Alberta passes distracted driving law

[InSutterWeTrust]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

I saw a lady today stop at a red light. She picked up her map and took a 20 sec look at it and put it down and waited for the light to turn green. I thought to myself, really, she could get a ticket for that? What a joke.

But how many people pick up that same map, cell phone, newspaper and get so focused on what they are reading they are no longer paying attention to that light turning. I think most people are probably pretty good at keeping their attention focused on the road, but I know a few people that when they start doing or reading something else they are completely oblivious to everything else around them.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

So I guess no one can read any of the road signs or billboards without breaking the law? Like I said before, this law has gone way overboard.

You've got billboards and road signs inside your vehicle?

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by InSutterWeTrust

But how many people pick up that same map, cell phone, newspaper and get so focused on what they are reading they are no longer paying attention to that light turning. I think most people are probably pretty good at keeping their attention focused on the road, but I know a few people that when they start doing or reading something else they are completely oblivious to everything else around them.

It is always the bad habits of the few that punish the many.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

You've got billboards and road signs inside your vehicle?

It was a joke.

[InglewoodFan]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

So I guess no one can read any of the road signs or billboards without breaking the law? Like I said before, this law has gone way overboard.
.

I was sitting at a light once and got rear-ended, hard enough that the back tires of my truck were off the ground as my frame was in the middle of their hood. The lady who hit me honestly said to the cops that the reason she didn't even touch the brakes was she was reading a billboard. Cops gave her an undue care and attention ticket.

Me? I prefer all the drivers around me to be giving their full attention to driving.

[Aegypticus]

A friend of mine got a ticket for turning to look at a hot girl in another car. I asked if it was a lady cop. It was.

[EVERLAST]

this morning as I am leaving the office I walked passed our new receptionist who happened to be taking a call from someone complaining about one of our drivers....

"Sir, please before you continue let me ask one simple question...are you currently driving?" Oh, I see you couldn't afford the time to pull over to place this call to me safely but are instead breaking the law calling me while driving ....who's the a##hole now Sir?!"

God that made my day

[stampsx2]

Anybody else noticing way more distracted drivers than before September 1st? I see two a day at the very least. When the law came out there was literally none. Now I see it everywhere. Mostly it's texting and talking on cell phones. The odd time I see people drinking coffee. It's almost always women when texting. Forbidden fruit i guess.

[redforever]

Just a quick question. I know it is illegal to program your GPS while driving, either moving or stopped.

However, is it legal to have the GPS displayed on your dashboard? or does it have to be put lower in your vehicle where say you would have a cup of coffee?

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by stampsx2

Anybody else noticing way more distracted drivers than before September 1st? I see two a day at the very least. When the law came out there was literally none. Now I see it everywhere. Mostly it's texting and talking on cell phones. The odd time I see people drinking coffee. It's almost always women when texting. Forbidden fruit i guess.

I've noticed it a lot more but I think that is because I'm noticing now. When it was legal I didn't really care.

[stampsx2]

If it is illegal to have your GPS above your dashboard then we might as well start selling cars without radio's. Driving while listening to music is distracting. Especially when there is emergency vehicles nearby.

[justkidding]

Originally Posted by stampsx2

Anybody else noticing way more distracted drivers than before September 1st? I see two a day at the very least. When the law came out there was literally none. Now I see it everywhere. Mostly it's texting and talking on cell phones. The odd time I see people drinking coffee. It's almost always women when texting. Forbidden fruit i guess.

This is not against the law.

[stampsx2]

Um I heard a police officer say he gave a ticket to someone who was backing out of a parking spot with a sandwich in their hand.

[Yasa]

Originally Posted by stampsx2

Um I heard a police officer say he gave a ticket to someone who was backing out of a parking spot with a sandwich in their hand.

I guess that one is kinda boarderline, but;

Originally Posted by THE LAW

• drinking beverages, such as coffee, water or pop
• eating a snack
• smoking
• talking with passengers
• listening to a portable audio player – as long as it is set up before you begin driving
• using the following:
• a GPS navigation system – as long as the system is affixed to the vehicle and programmed before you begin driving or the system is voice activated. You cannot hold the unit or manually enter information while driving

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

[stampsx2]

haha. Sucks to be anybody that's out on the road for most of the day. Example Truck drivers. This law is stupid. Distracted driving is cell phones and texting. That's it. This law is going to cost more in courts and lawyers than the province is going to make.

Couple years from now this law will be about as enforced as removing your garbage bin from the street by 7pm.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by Yasa

I guess that one is kinda boarderline, but;

- eating a snack

My defense: It's not a snack, it's a full meal!

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

My defense: It's not a snack, it's a full meal!

Why would you do that? You like paying traffic tickets or something?

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

My defense: It's not a snack, it's a full meal!

Eating a snack is allowed. I do not recommend that the snack be fondue.

[Shawn_Cronin44]

Originally Posted by Yasa

I guess that one is kinda boarderline, but;

[/LIST]http://www.transportation.alberta.ca...teddriving.htm

The partial quote of the law isn't very clear as to what's allowed and what isn't allowed

What activities are not allowed while driving?

• talking on a hand-held cell phone
• texting/e-mailing
• using electronic devices like laptop computers, video games, cameras, video entertainment displays and programming portable audio players (e.g., mp3 players)
• manually entering information on GPS units
• reading printed material like a book or a magazine
• writing, printing or sketching
• personal grooming like combing your hair, applying makeup or brushing your teeth
• using a 2-way radio or what is commonly referred to as a CB (Citizen’s Band) radio (some exemptions apply)

What activities are allowed?

• We are not talking about penalizing drivers for taking a sip of coffee, chatting with passengers or blowing their nose. We are talking about drivers who decide to put themselves and others at risk by watching movies, browsing for and downloading 'apps', applying makeup or shaving all while trying to navigate through traffic.
  These activities are not specifically restricted under the law:
• using a cell phone in hands-free mode - this means the device is not held in the driver's hand and is activated by voice or a single touch to the device
• using an earphone — if it is used in a hands-free or voice-activated manner
• drinking beverages, such as coffee, water or pop
• eating a snack
• smoking
• talking with passengers
• listening to a portable audio player – as long as it is set up before you begin driving

using the following:

• a GPS navigation system – as long as the system is affixed to the vehicle and programmed before you begin driving or the system is voice activated. You cannot hold the unit or manually enter information while driving
• a collision avoidance system
• a gauge, instrument, device or system that provides information about the vehicle’s systems or the vehicle’s location
• a dispatch system for transporting passengers
• a logistical transportation tracking system that tracks vehicle location, driver status or the delivery of goods for commercial purposes
• calling emergency services, such as 911 with a hand-held cell phone
• using 2-way radios or hand-held radios, such as those commonly referred to as CB (Citizen’s Band) radios, when escorting oversized vehicles, to contact one's employer, or when participating in search, rescue and emergency management situations.

[OzSome]

I was on the way home driving on 14th Street SW by Rockyview Hospital the other day. The lady on the right was talking on the phone smiling and even laughing then the guy on my left hand side was texting while waiting for the lights to change. I can tell he is texting because he keeps looking down then looking up to check if the lights change or not. It was kind of funny watching this guy bobbing his head too many times. There goes the Distracted Laws eh? People are scared at the beginning then back to normal again.