Distracted driving legislation welcomed

The Alberta government's proposed distracted driving legislation is finding fans, even among those who work from their cars.

The proposed legislation bans the use of hand-held cellphones, as well as other distractions such as texting and grooming. It will be debated in the legislature in the fall.

 "I think it's dangerous to hold a phone in your hand and be talking," said Mary McLean, a realtor who needs to keep in touch with her clients while she's on the road.

"I see a lot of people doing this, plus other things that they do within their car, like doing their makeup. I've seen that. I've seen writing notes."

McLean asks clients to call back and leave a message if there's information she needs, and she pulls over when making a call. 

"This way, I can have my hands on the steering wheel, I can talk to you as I talk to a client in the car. I look in my rear view mirror and my front mirror and my side mirrors while I'm speaking. I make a conscious effort to address what's around me."

The Alberta Motor Association applauds the proposed bill.

"We have had so many calls from [the] public," said Don Szarko, who works with the AMA. "It's such an emotionalism around this issue that we've not heard for some time, so I think the public has very high expectations of the government to pass this legislation."

Distracted driving legislation — not just cellphone use while driving — has the support of 90 per cent of AMA members, Szarko said.

'This will be a milestone in Alberta's history' —Don Szarko, Alberta Motor Association

"Probably if you look back, this will be a milestone in Alberta's history in that we were the first jurisdiction to pass comprehensive distracted driving legislation."

Still, Szarko said the AMA has questions about the bill, such as why demerit points are not among the penalties, as they are in other provinces. A larger fine than $172 would also be an improvement, he said. 

"The one place to hit Albertans is in the pocketbook.That seems to resonate with them," he said.

The AMA would also have welcomed a ban on hands-free cellphone use as well, "but to us it's not a show-stopper," he said.

"I'm not aware of any legislation [in other jurisdictions] that actually deals with hands-free, so there's an issue there probably around enforcement."

Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Ontario and Saskatchewan have all banned the use of hand-held cellphones while driving.