Alberta passes distracted driving law

[Mad Mel]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

I do text when I am at a red light, is that allowed seeing as though it isn't a safety issue considering the vehicle isn't moving.

Reason #4322 why lane splitting is awesome. Not getting stuck behind dudes texting rather than noticing that the light has turned green.

But srs business, I just can't understand what's so important that people can't wait until they get somewhere. Or just pull over. Must be because I'm old, and think social networking involves talking to people over drinks.

[Mad Mel]

Originally Posted by The Goon

Ironically, both jolinar and Mad Mel had their earlier debate while street racing.

Pfft, I don't race cars. I let them watch my tail light fade into the distance. While pulling a wheelie. With one hand on the bars. Don't ask about the other hand.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by Mad Mel

Reason #4322 why lane splitting is awesome. Not getting stuck behind dudes texting rather than noticing that the light has turned green.

But srs business, I just can't understand what's so important that people can't wait until they get somewhere. Or just pull over. Must be because I'm old, and think social networking involves talking to people over drinks.

Usually if I am texting someone it has to do something with work or school. I hate useless facebook or twitter updates, actually I think twitter is super gay for 99% of the population. I usually switch songs at the light or if I am stuck in traffic. I can tell when the cars ahead of me are moving. I figure I am not putting anyone's safety at risk, as long as I am aware of how much time I have until the light turns green

[SeeBass]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

Curse me for going to University and not being able to afford a car with radio functions on the steering wheel. Frankly I don't think that people will get pulled over because they change the song on their ipod or anything like that, unless they are swirving over the road and the police see that.

I do text when I am at a red light, is that allowed seeing as though it isn't a safety issue considering the vehicle isn't moving.

You have a car while going to university!!!

you kids are so spoiled today

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by SeeBass

You have a car while going to university!!!

you kids are so spoiled today

Just like old milk.

Don't worry I had to work in order to buy my car.

[SeeBass]

Originally Posted by Mad Mel

Pfft, I don't race cars. I let them watch my tail light fade into the distance. While pulling a wheelie. With one hand on the bars. Don't ask about the other hand.

Is it holding onto the newspapers that you deliver, that are sitting in the front basket?

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

Curse me for going to University and not being able to afford a car with radio functions on the steering wheel. Frankly I don't think that people will get pulled over because they change the song on their ipod or anything like that, unless they are swirving over the road and the police see that.

This is something I could agree with. If you are violating other traffic safety laws while dicking around with your phone or ipod or whatever, then get a ticket for both.

Again, I don't agree with texting and driving under any condition and that should be an offence.

[troutman]

nm

[The Yen Man]

I don't understand why anyone would argue AGAINST this law. How is it a bad thing to make sure drivers aren't fiddling with devices that distract them from driving? I'm sorry, but my safety and everyone else's safety on the road is a lot more important than your measely inconvenience of not being able to update your Facebook status on your iphone.

[4X4]

Some of you guys are just so....black and white. FFS, the resident cop is on here tripping about this law, and here I am thinking that cops are going to use a bit of discretion when enforcing it. Ipods are on the list because if you're fooling around with it to an extent that's dangerous, a cop can ticket you for it, and you can't get off becuase "it wasn't a cell phone, it was an ipod".

Seriously, people. Just think about what a reasonable police officer would do with this law. It's not like he's gonna flip on the cherries and pull a gun on you because you changed a song with your ipod. If, however, you're swerving along down the street, and your inattention is perceived as dangerous, and it's related to a handheld device, you can be ticketed for that specifically. IMO, that is the catalyst for getting people to realize that their habits are dangerous, and now, illegal.

[The Yen Man]

Couldn't have said it better 4x4. It's not like the cop is camping in his car looking for any slightest signs of people distracted behind the wheel just so he can hand out some tickets. This law is put in place to give police the ability to hand out a ticket if they pull someone over for driving recklessly.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Some of you guys are just so....black and white. FFS, the resident cop is on here tripping about this law, and here I am thinking that cops are going to use a bit of discretion when enforcing it.

Would you really trust a cop who can't even protect his own extension cords?

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by Cheerio

Sorry but that is fata-ing stupid. I'm not allowed to press 1 button on my iPhone, but some ###### can sit there changing radio stations and adjusting his heat, and thats just fine? The gov't really fata-ed this law.

The reason MP3 players are not allowed to be changed while driving is because unless you have a dashboard mount for your iPhone, it's likely sitting in a cup holder, on a seat, or in your glove compartment. The dash controls are all up where you can easily see them while driving, and things like changing the heat can basically be done without looking.

You're supposed to set the GPS before you leave.

[The Yen Man]

And people are seriously just arguing for the sake of arguing if they think changing the heat on a dashboard takes as much concentration as browsing through the playlist on their Ipods.

[CaptainCrunch]

In Soviet Russia we'd be seeing road side executions. But cell phones would be the size of a phonebooth and a antennae on your car 2 stories tall.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

In Soviet Russia we'd be seeing road side executions. But cell phones would be the size of a phonebooth and a antennae on your car 2 stories tall.

In Soviet Russia, the phone talks on you!

[Clarkey]

I'll be honest I'm still going to make calls or answer calls when I'm driving. I'll just take a quick look around to make sure there's no cops. I'm assuming most people will be the same.

[flamesfan6]

Originally Posted by Clarkey

I'll be honest I'm still going to make calls or answer calls when I'm driving. I'll just take a quick look around to make sure there's no cops. I'm assuming most people will be the same.

well i hope you then crash into something for a single car accident instead of someone else.

but seriously... are people STILL trying to argue against this law?

edit - they really needed to include demerits in the ticket

[burning_acid1]

Originally Posted by Yanda

Careless driving is only 6 demerits because it resulted in an accident and you were at fault. Being caught on the phone or txting is not as severe as having caused an accident due to lack of focus.

But if you cause an accident due to lack of focus/careless driving from texting, you will also be hit with 6 merits and a large fine.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Mad Mel

In 2007, 1054 Canadians died in traffic accidents due to alcohol. In 1982, it was 2501. While still too many, the laws have been effective, since 1450 fewer Canadians are dead each year because of those laws.

http://madd.ca/english/research/lives_saved.pdf

edit: had the numbers backward at first.

Although I agree 100% with the proposed distraction law, and am 100% against impaired driving, I can assure you that a very, very large portion of those reduced deaths are related to the 5 fold improved saftey and crash survivability of modern automobiles.