Cell Phone Ban in an Effort to Reduce Car Accidents in BC
For those of you who love to drive and talk on the phone, as of January 1, 2010 in BC, you must do without the talk.
In BC we now have to let our cell phones ring through to voice mail while driving; our government passed a law saying we can’t use hand-held devices while operating a motor vehicle.
Our province’s police officers report that they’ll give us all a break and won’t give out pricey tickets until February 1, 2010. It appears we have a “cooling off” period in BC.
If you have a wireless bluetooth ear-piece or some form of ear piece and can dial your phone without using the actual hand-held device, you’re in luck in BC. Our law only applies to hand-held devices.
The new law prohibiting hand-held devices comes with a price – a ticket price that is. If you get caught using your hand-held device, it’ll cost you $167.
Our learner and novice drivers don’t have the luxury to use headsets, bluetooth ear-pieces, and other hands-free technology. The ban applicable to learner and novice drivers in BC is both hands-free and hand-held devices.
So why the new law that will no doubt impede our driving lifestyle where we evade driving boredom by conversing our entire commutes? Death, destruction, widows, orphans, and injury.
On the one hand it seems odd that it took this long for governments to pass this type of law. On the other hand once the dialogue in North America about passing this type of law started not too long ago, many provincial and state governments are following suit.
Our culture of instant communication and connection will make it difficult for people (I suspect) to simply let their cell phones ring to voice mail while driving. We like answering the phone; we expect people to be available.
With mobile phones practically becoming the new personal computer, this type of law will probably get drivers to again focus on driving rather than working and being entertained.
