Driving in Vancouver: BC-wide Cell Phone Ban (Part 2)

Are the new cell phone and electronic device restrictions in Vancouver and throughout BC really going to make us safer? Many studies indicate that drivers are just as distracted by electronic device usage while driving, even with a hands-free device.

With our new law, effective Jan 1, Vancouver and BC drivers have restrictions on the use of electronic devices while driving. An Angus Reid study from June 2008 found that 85% of drivers supported some level of a cell phone ban.

Hands-free is Not Actually Safer

A University of Calgary study from 2004 found no significant safety benefits to using a hands-free cell phone. They found that even though hand-free dialing may eliminate some of the distraction (as opposed to physically dialling), once you start a phone conversation, the distraction level is the same as using a hands-on phone while driving.

Accident Stats

• Cell phone while driving can decrease your brain processing and reaction time by 50%
• Distractions associated with cell phone usage while driving is comparable to driving drunk
• When text messaging, drivers spend about 400% more time with their eyes off the road
• Distracted driving (including cell phone use) contributes to about 25% of all motor vehicle accidents MVAs are the #1 cause of injury-induced death in people under 25 years of age

Common Driving Distractions

• Cell phone and electronic device usage
• Eating/drinking
• Manipulating vehicle controls
• Reaching for objects in the car

Activities not contributing to driver distraction include talking to a vehicle passenger, or listening to music or audio books.

Cell phone regulations are already in place throughout the world including parts of Australia, the United Kingdom, Finland, The Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Japan, Singapore, and several US States and Canadian Provinces.

For more information about the new BC-wide electronic device  and cell phone ban and rules, read my WriterGal post, or visit the ICBC Drive Cell Safe website.

(Stats from the Discussion Paper: “Addressing the Problem of Distracted Driving and its
Impacts to Road Safety” by the BC Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General)

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Driving in Vancouver: BC-wide Cell Phone Restrictions (Part 1)

Aside from the 2010 Winter Olympic Buzz, Vancouver is talking about the new cell phone ban that came into effect on Jan 1, 2010. Here’s what every Vancouver driver needs to know.

The new law bans or restricts the use of certain portable electronic devices while operating a vehicle. It applies particularly to cell phone usage, but also applies to devices including PDAs, Mp3 players, and handheld electronic devices. Email and texting are now completely banned while driving.

Permitted Electronic Device Usage

You are permitted to answer calls using a hands-free device (such as a Bluetooth headset). Permitted hands-free devices or headsets must be:

• set-up and in place before turning on your vehicle
• operated by voice command or one-touch
• worn in one ear only (unless you are on a motorcycle)

You may use the full, hands-on capabilities of your electronic devices if:

• lawfully parked off the roadway
• calling emergency services (911) about an emergency
• using a hands-free device

Fixed GPS devices, portable music players and television screens may still be used as long as they are set-up before starting the vehicle, and are not operated (unless using voice commands) by the driver.

Emergency response personnel (peace officers, paramedics, and fire services) are permitted to use electronic communications devices in carrying out their job. Commercial drivers have similar device restrictions to regular drivers, but with additional permitted uses. Drivers in the Graduated Licensing program now have a full ban on using all electronic devices while driving…No exceptions.

Grace Period

During January, there is a one-month grace period in which you will only get a warning and a reminder. Starting February 1, 2010 you can be fined $167 plus 3 penalty points if you’re caught using an electronic device while driving in BC.

Hopefully this will help keep Vancouver roads safer. Visit the WriterGal blog tomorrow for more information about driving in BC.

For full details about the BC-wide electronic device and cell phone ban and rules, visit the ICBC Drive Cell Safe website.

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