Survey Results Mixed On Cell phone Ban

Tuesday, February 01, 2011 03:55 AM

Prince George, B.C. - It was one year ago today that B.C.'s distracted driver legislation came into play...meaning drivers should not have held a cellphone to their ear while driving since then...

A recent survey conducted by the British Columbia Automobile Association has found that 57-percent of respondents feel B.C. roads are safer with the new legislation in place and 34-percent say they're paying more attention to the way they drive because of the law.

While 14-percent of those surveyed say they talk 'frequently' (more than one a week) using a hands-free device, many do still do still admit to texting or talking on a hand-held phone on occasion:

only three-percent admit to talking 'frequently', but 13-percent admit they continue to talk 'occasionally' on a hand-held phone
four percent of drivers surveyed continue to read and send text messages 'frequently' while driving, and seven-percent say they do text 'occasionally'
however, 80-percent of respondents say they frequently observe other drivers talking on hand-held phones

"BCAA's distracted driver survey also reveals the percentage of survey participants who feel there is a good chance of being caught and ticketed by law enforcement has dropped," says Allan Lamb, Executive Director of the Association's Traffic Safety Foundation. "Yet, we know police are enforcing the law and we need to change that perception and continue to educate motorists about the dangers of distracted driving."

The RCMP handed out 32-thousand tickets (at $167 each) across the province last year under the new legislation.

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Posted on Tuesday, February 01, 2011 03:55 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: acrider54 on February 1 2011 5:41 AM

32 thousand tickets at $167.00 each. Is my math wrong or am I reading the numbers wrong. That's $5,344,000.00 I wonder where the money went besides into Campbells and cronies pockets.

Posted by: Outwest on February 1 2011 8:20 AM

We are so busy that we have do use a Device to be in Contact with someone all the time.
Double the Fines and see if that works, I hate to get hit bye one of those multi Tasking selfish Drivers, for the Fines collected they go into General Revenues or is there Proof they don't .

Posted by: metalman on February 1 2011 9:32 AM

I still see a lot of distracted drivers on the road, everywhere I go, not just PG.
This leads me to assume that a lot of people are not getting the message. A $167.00 fine would certainly get my attention, maybe that is pocket change for some?
metalman.

Posted by: Tudenom on February 1 2011 10:17 AM

The attitude towards phone communications has changed a whole bunch over the last five years or so. People have become so attached to their cell phones that they expect that everyone else is equally attached to theirs. A lot of people expect you to reply to their text immediately and if you don't they get annoyed, no matter what you're doing at the time.

So the expectation to answer your phone is there and so powerful that people will actually risk their lives or put everything on hold to answer the ringing bell.

Personally I think it's rude to read and respond to a text when you're right in the middle of a conversation with someone in the mall. I have friends who do this all the time, and when I voice my displeasure they tone it down but it never really goes away.

Cell phones have become less a convenience and more like a leash. I own one, which I have turned off most of the time. It acts more like a messaging service for me. That way I decide when to respond to people on my cell phone.

Posted by: PrinceGeorge on February 1 2011 11:42 AM

acrider54: "I wonder where the money went besides into Campbells and cronies pockets."

You seem to be sure that some money went into the pockets of Campbell and his cronies.

That's theft, a criminal offence.

Call Crimestoppers or the RCMP about that and perhaps they will get involved and find out about it and where else it went, supposedly.

Posted by: Vulgar Sage on February 1 2011 12:07 PM

Actually in a public setting such as a mall if I`m conversing with and that person responds to a text it give me reason to walk away from them and continue on my tasks...and I don`t have to listen to their air head conversations...As for in the vehicle no text, no cell, no hands free.

If you have ever observed a person in conversation with another??? They are flailing their arms nodding heads wagging fingers...I`v inadvertently observed folks in those types of conversation in their vehicles, I don`t think you can tell me that thought process is not distracting...

Posted by: NoSeverance on February 1 2011 6:47 PM

Texting, talking on a handheld device is impaired driving and the impaired driving laws should cover this insanity.

Cars should jam cell signals when running so they can't be used unless the car is turned off.

Many have been killed on the road already caused from a driver texting or talking on their cell phone.

Throw the book at them.

Posted by: tractor on February 2 2011 8:23 AM

It sure is hard to read all these comments and post mine with all these potholes that I keep driving through.
Ha Ha.