B.C. organization pushes for total cell phone ban

Canadian businesses may soon be forced to revise their mobile technology policies if a group like the BritishColumbia Safety Council has its way. The organization is pushing the province to ban all cell phone devices,“The impact of an absolute ban on cell phone use while driving would be significant and far-reaching,”according to Carmi Levy, a London, Ont.-based independent IT industry analyst. “In today’s wirelesseconomy, the office exists wherever we can carry our cell phones and smart phones. So a total ban wouldforce a radical change in how we conduct business, where we conduct business and the tools we use to do. Moez Ladha, CEO of Toronto-based Drive Safe Canada, a provider of wireless hands-free car kits, calls the “Using a hands-free device is no different than listening to your favourite tunes on the radio and even singing along,” he adds. “We do not believe a complete ban of cell phone and electronic devices while in the car is aviable solution … Many businesses rely solely on cell phone use in the vehicles: couriers, taxis, trucking, realBryan Lowes, executive of the British Columbia Safety Council, remains unconvinced.“It doesn’t matter much whether it’s hand-held or hands-free. The crash risks are pretty much the same,” heIn response to critics, Lowes says, “We have workplace health and safety regulations. The employer isresponsible for the safety of their employees in the workplace. So if they happen to be driving a car, that istheir workplace, they are still responsible for the safety of that employee, and of course where thatemployee’s actions can affect third parties, members of the public.”In a study released last month, the VirginaTech Transportation Institute found that drivers of light cars talkingand/or listening to cell phones while operating vehicles were 1.3 times more likely than non-distracted driversto be involved in crashes or near-crashes. A 2008 study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found thatusing a cell phone while driving is associated with roughly a quadrupling of crash risk.“The research is pretty clear from around the world,” Lowes says. “Cell phones take messages, for goodness’sake … We have responsibilities to the community when we get behind the wheel of a car. It’s time we haveFor managers in the IT industry, a complete cell phone ban could bring to light a lack of acceptable policies“Sadly, many businesses have ignored this important step, which exposes them to huge liabilities if anemployee gets into an accident while making use of mobile technology,” Levy explains. “Against thatbackdrop, the B.C. Safety Council’s call for a total ban should serve as a reminder for Canadian businessesto revisit their policy framework and ensure they invest resources as appropriate to define what employeesmay or may not do with company-issued wireless equipment.”Page 1 of 2While B.C. doesn’t have any laws governing the use of mobile phones in cars, it may only be a matter of timebefore B.C. businesses that rely on mobile technology are forced to re-examine their policies.If the province does pass legislation, it won’t be the first in the country. Presently, Nova Scotia,Newfoundland and Labrador, and Quebec have laws against cell phone use while driving. Ontario passedlegislation against distracted driving in April with a cell phone ban taking effect in October.“It has not been easy for us to reach this position,” says Lowes. “In fact, as little as three years ago, I wouldhave still been in support of the hands-free (option), but the longer we go on, the more the research is beingdone … I’ve had to change my mind and get a little hard-nosed myself. So we’ll see where it goes.”

Cell Phone Ban Effective Ocober 2009 in Ontario

In October, 2009 Bill 118 – Countering Distracted Driving and Promoting Green Transportation Act, 2009 will be implemented and enforced on the highways, streets and roads of Ontario after a public awareness program is conducted for Ontarionians, concerning the new prohibition on driving while using or viewing electronic hand-held devices (this includes, cell phones, iPhones, smartphones, blackberries, iPods, MP3 players, DVD players, laptop computers, eBook readers, portable games), is conducted.
Similar rules and laws have already been passed in other Provinces. In fact, Ontario followed four (4) other Provinces in passing this legislation. Ontario follows Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Nova Scotia. Manitoba follows Ontario as the sixth Province implementing similar legislation.
The rules in Ontario for using a hand-held device attract less sanctions then Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Nova Scotia.
Starting in October, 2009:In Ontario, if police witness you using a hand-held device (to: view,talk, listen, emailing (reading or sending or writing) or text messaging (reading or sending or writing) or observing a GPS (global positioning system) unit (not properly affixed to the dashboard) while operating a motor vehicle (you are situated behind the steering wheel of the vehicle and are operating it and have care and control of the motor vehicle) in Ontario, you will receive a ticket worth up to $500.00.
See sections 78 (1) to 78.1 (subsections 1-8 inclusive) of the Highway Traffic Act.
If the police consider your use of such a device as careless driving, you could potentially be charged with careless driving pursurant to section 130 of the Highway Traffic Act. A conviction for this offence, would mean the driver would accumulate six (6) demerit points on your driving record, face a huge fine, up to $2000.00 (and a huge increase in insurance premiums or having insurance cancelled), suspension of one’s driver’s licence and possible incarceration.
In Newfoundland and Labrador: if you are convicted of this offence (which came into effect on April 1, 2003), you will receive a ticket and a fine in a range of $100.00 to $400.00 and will accumulate four (4) demerit points. If the defendant defaults on payment of the fine, they face possible incarceration of 2 – 14 days. See section 176.1 of the Newfoundland and Labrador Highway Traffic Act.
Prince Edward Island prohibits (which began April 1, 2007) newly licensed drivers (Stage 1) from using cellphones (or utilizing headphones) or any hand-held electronic device while operating or having care or control of a motor vehicle. driving. See section 6 of Graduated Driver Licensing Regulations P.E.I Reg. EC225/07 + P.E.I. Reg. EC321/01 ($100.00 fine)), - Enabling Legislation- subsection 69(1) of the Highway Traffic Act, R.S.P.E.I. 1988.
In Quebec: if you are convicted of this offence (which began on April 1, 2008), you will receive a fine of $115.00 + and will accumulate three (3) demerit points. Bill 42 (An Act to amend the Highway Safety Code and the Regulation respecting demerit points -see section 26.1) See sections 439.1 and 508.3 of the Highway Safety Code.
In Nova Scotia: See Bill 7 (An Act to Amend Chapter 293 of the Revised Statutes, 1989, the Motor Vehicle Act).If you are convicted of this offence (which began on April 1, 2008) , you will be fined starting at $135.75 for a first offence, $164.50 and up to $222.00 for repeated subsequent offences (see N.S. Reg.4/2001 – 5A (1) Category A). See section 100D (1) & (2) of the Nova Scotia Motor Vehicle Act.
Manitoba: introduced legislation in November that proposed fines of at least $190 for using hand-held cellphones. Bill 5 was given royal assent on June 11, 2009. see Manitoba Highway Traffic Act – s.215.1(1) to 215.1(6).
British Columbia’s Solicitor General, Kash P. Heed, has called for public input by August 7, 2009 on possible restrictions on cellphone use and on the issue of sanctions.
Those who are exempt from this new Ontario law:
Police, Firefighters and Paramedics. Driver’s (who are not police,firefighters or paramedics) requiring emergency services, are exempt from the law if they are calling “911″.
As a driver in Ontario, you are exempt from this law if you are calling “911″ as a result of an emergency or if you are pulled over safely off of the roadway or you are properly parked.
How can a driver, operating a motor vehicle in Ontario, make or accept a phone call without violating this law?
If driver’s, driving in Ontario want to initiate outgoing phone calls or accept incoming phone calls, the law provides for the use of hands-free devices (ie.-headsets, bluetooth technology, OnStar, etc.).
If you want to use your communication (that is not a hands-free device) or entertainment device, in compliance with the law, while you are behind the wheel in a motor vehicle, you must meet these conditions:
the motor vehicle you are operating, is off the roadway or is lawfully parked on the roadway.
the motor vehicle you are operating, is not in motion (this doesn’t include a “traffic light” or “stop sign”)
the motor vehicle you are operating, is not impeding traffic.
This means that while operating your motor vehicle as the driver and if you do not have a headset, bluetooth technology or something similar, you must pull over and use your cell phone or i phone to initiate or accept a phone call. There was a time when driver’s had to stop and exit their motor vehicles and go to a phone booth to make a phone call.

New Honolulu Cell Phone Ban Introduced

No cell phones, no Blackberry’s, no video games, no cameras. A new bill at the
Honolulu City Council would ban drivers from even holding a mobile electronic
device while the engine is running.

Five states and the District of Columbia have already banned using a cell
phone and driving and Hawaii could be the next.

Take a look around and you'll see a lot of multi-tasking, also known as
driving while talking on the phone even though a lot of people agree it is
distracting.

"I seen the other day a lady on her cell phone and she was backing out of her
parking stall and backed right into the car behind her going down the road but
it was all because she was on her phone not watching what she was doing," said
Richard Jones, who favors a ban.

The city council just approved a ban on texting and video gaming while
driving. It stems from a Honolulu city bus driver caught playing games while
behind the wheel.

"The activity he actually did was not illegal and that's profoundly,
profoundly dangerous," said Honolulu Councilmember Charles Djou, Hawaii Kai.
Now Councilmember Rod Tam, who was the only member to vote against Djou’s
texting ban, has now introduced his own version banning the use of all mobile
electronic devices while driving. Basically if you don't have both hands on the
steering wheel you can't use a cell phone.

"People are just not paying attention to their driving, its reckless
driving," said Councilmember Rod Tam, Downtown Honolulu, Liliha.

But Djou asks where do you draw the line? If you ban cell phones why not ban
eating or smoking while driving.

"The problem is the city council and the state legislature has considered it
numerous times before and we've never been able to pass it," said Djou.

But Rod Tam is confident this time will be different. From the sound of it so
does some of the public.

"I think it's difficult to enforce but at least it puts it to the mindset and
the forefront that it’s for safety reasons," said Jan Yamamoto, favors ban.

"I'm for it if there's a law against it. I think it's good," said Richard
Jones, favors ban.

If nothing else the subject is something to talk about just not while you're
driving.

As for the texting and gaming ban already approved, it goes to Mayor Mufi
Hannemann’s desk to sign or veto. His spokesperson says the mayor hasn't made up
his mind what he'll do. However, it could be veto proof since seven members of
the council support the law.
Written by Tim Sakahara

Graphic British safety video about dangers of texting and driving becomes global Internet hit

LONDON - A graphic British public service announcement about the dangers of sending text messages while driving has become an Internet hit and sparked debate around the world.
The Gwent police force in Wales said Wednesday that an excerpt from a video it made for use in schools has been viewed more than 6 million times on YouTube and other Web sites since it was posted last month.

The 30-minute film shows a bubbly teenager named Cassie - "a nice girl from a nice Gwent Valleys family" - who triggers a pileup that kills four people when she tries to send a text message while driving. The graphic, slow-motion depiction of the crash shows heads going through windshields, bloodied bodies and the lifeless eyes of a baby.
Talking on a hand-held mobile phone and texting while driving are both illegal in Britain.
"The film is hitting home because it has a hard edge and it taps into something that lots of people do but know they shouldn't," said the film's director, Peter Watkins-Hughes.
The film has been discussed on television shows in the United States, where more than a dozen states have banned text messaging while driving and where legislation is before Congress that would forces states to ban drivers from texting or emailing.
Recent studies suggest text messages may be more distracting to drivers than talking on the phone.
Research by British motorists' group the RAC Foundation found that texting slowed young drivers' reaction times by 35 per cent, more than drugs or alcohol. A study of truck drivers released last month by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that texting increased the risk of collision by 23 times - significantly more than the increase from talking on a cellphone.
Gwent Chief Constable Mick Giannasi said the issues in the film "are as relevant to the people of Tennessee as they are to the residents of Tredegar," the Welsh town where it was shot.
"Texting and driving can have tragic consequences and the more this film is viewed, the better," he said. "Young people think they can text on autopilot because they do it so instinctively - for that reason we need to use strong imagery to get them to sit up and take notice."
Britain has a long tradition of hard-hitting public service ads, shown on television, radio, in movie theatres and more recently on the Internet.
One recent anti-speeding ad showed the bloodied and mangled body of a young girl who has been hit by a car. Another, discouraging binge-drinking, showed a young man in a superhero costume falling to his death.
While most comments posted in response to the Gwent police video praised its impact, some questioned whether such graphic images are necessary, or an effective deterrent.
Watkins-Hughes said he hoped his film would help make text-driving as socially unacceptable as driving while drunk.
"If we can get one person to change their behaviour then it will have been worthwhile," he said.

Age Verification is needed for this YouTube Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGE8LzRaySk

iPhone Complete - Troubleshooting Guide

In The News: Mass. Looks To Ban Talking, Texting While Driving

Massachusetts may soon join other states that limit the use of cell phones while driving. A public hearing is scheduled at the State House Thursday morning to review 15 separate bills that would impose varying levels of restrictions.

This issue is now front and center because of last month's crash of two Green Line trolleys. Nearly fifty people were injured when a driver missed a red light and slammed into another trolley stopped at Government Station. The trolley operator said he was texting his girlfriend at the time of the crash.

The T swiftly put rules in place forbidding their drivers from even carrying cell phones while at the controls of a trolley, train or bus.

Supporters of a cell phone ban for auto drivers point to current research: a Harris poll this month fond that one quarter of drivers with cell phones send or receive text messages behind the wheel. A Harvard University study from 2003 showed that cell phone use while driving contributed to 2,600 deaths a year.

"We can't legislate commonsense," said Representative Peter Koutoujian (D-Waltham) who sponsored one of the bills, "but at a certain point government has to step in to stop an action that is so dangerous and yet so common."

The 15 bills in the legislature right now ban cell use to varying degrees. Some just ban texting while driving, others allow for phone calls but only with the use of a headset. Koutoujian's bill bans both texting and talking without a headset.