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It's happened to most of us. We're driving home from work, or crossing the street, when our journey is very nearly cut short by a driver with a cell phone glued to his ear, weaving erratically all over the road as he carries on a conversation. This behavior, while dangerous, is not illegal in British Columbia. At least, not yet.
On April 1st 2008, the provinces of Quebec and Nova Scotia joined Newfoundland and Labrador in banning the use of handheld cell phones while driving. Those who drive and dial in Quebec will be fined $100, while in Nova Scotia the fines range from $165 to $335.
Popular support for the banning of cell phone use by drivers has swelled in recent months. In January, BC Solicitor General John Les called for cell phone restrictions for new drivers, echoing a similar suggestion recommended in a 2006 bill in the Ontario parliament. The Canadian Automobile Association has also called for a province-wide ban on cell phones, citing a University of Utah study which suggests the practice is 'just as dangerous as drinking and driving'. The statement was supported by the police, who have previously lobbied for such laws. Nine US states have already cracked down on cell phone-using drivers, while similar laws have been enacted in dozens of countries worldwide.
Proponents of the new laws point to studies in various scientific publications, from the New England Journal of Medicine to the Journal of Experimental Psychology, all of which conclude that talking on cell phones can reduce driver concentration and increase the likelihood of an accident. However, the studies indicate there is no difference between the use of a handset while driving and the use of a hands-free kit.
"A lot of people just don't have that common sense," said Melanie Cook, who recently immigrated to Vancouver from Australia, where dialing-and-driving was banned in 2002. "You can always spot the ones who are talking or texting on cell phones. They're going really slowly and weaving all over the highway."
Despite high fines, demerit points and an extensive driver safety campaign, Australia's ban has been less effective than hoped, with an average annual decrease in road deaths of only 1.7% for the five years following the law's introduction. In New York and Connecticut, bans have proved similarly ineffective. The Australian and American reports also demonstrate that drivers are more than willing to break the new cell phone laws. Police in the state of Victoria in Australia apprehend over 40,000 unrepentant cell phone-using drivers a year, netting over $5 million in fines.
Facts aside, a ban on cell phone use while driving is likely to prove popular with a majority of BC residents. A current poll at the website of the Georgia Straight newspaper asks 'Should it be illegal to use a cell phone while driving?'. The response: an overwhelming 89% say 'Yes'.
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