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No Hand-Held Devices In Ontario Cars
NIK282000 writes "To cut down on accidents caused by drivers who aren't paying attention, in Ontario it is now a ticketable offense to text, email, or navigate with your GPS while driving. But it seems to me that they have thrown the baby out with the bathwater, because it is now also a $500 fine to change your radio station, change songs on your MP3 player, or even drink your morning coffee. It can also be enforced to the point where changing the climate controls on your dash can get you fined because it requires you to take your hands off the wheel. Though this was a good idea, it seems to have been taken a little too far."
Though this was a good idea, it seems to have been taken a little too far.
Here's how I reason. Regardless if I can or cannot drive perfectly well while drinking coffee with one hand, for all I know this could be completely fatal in your case. And if keeping the right to drink my morning coffee while driving potentially means losing my legs or even my life simply because you also had those rights, then it's a very, very, very small price to pay.
I am the lawn!
It's easier and more profitable to ticket almost law abiding citizens than hard core criminals.
Indeed it does. If the GPS is attached to the window, or dash mounted it can be used. If however you cause an accident by setting the address as you drive, you get the $1000 fine and points on your license.
However, the biggest problem I have with this new law, is not that it exists, I live in Ontario and cheer that it is in place, is that it does not apply to police officers. They are allowed to use hand held devices (such as cell phones) while they are driving. What is it that makes a copper less likely to be distracted by a hand held device than you or me?
"Any driver involved in an accident while their car was moving should immediately have their license suspended and car impounded until cause can be determined."
So under your proposed law, if someone hits you and the cop isn't sure, you lose your license until he is. And if he makes a mistake and finds you to be at fault, you lose your license?
No, that's far too extreme. You've gone beyond simple safety precautions and up into revenge.
"If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you; But if you really make them think, they'll hate you." - DM
Except for the fact that accidents per mile driven have been decreasing and are at an all time low in the USA...
But you keep calling other people idiots.
So no, this law does not go too far, in fact it does not go far enough. It should mandate that anyone found driving while distracted be charged with reckless endangerment of human life.
Anyone who claims they've never driven while distracted is a complete and utter moron. Mod it flamebait, I don't give a fuck but you sir are a fuckwit. It'd be more effective to ban babies from being in the car since an infant in a car seat who has just vomited and is about to choke to death is a far greater distraction than changing the fucking radio station.
I'm almost surprised you haven't suggested that cars need to be banned period.
The correct solution by the way is to teach people how to cope with distractions. AND TEST the driver for being able to cope with distractions. Life is full of them and pretending they don't exist is far more culpable than changing a radio station.
Everyone has a right to travel. No one has the right to endanger others.
First of all there is no "right to travel". Secondly the two are not compatible. There is a risk to yourself and others around you when you travel. It can be minimised NOT eliminated.
Those that do endanger others need to be held accountable for their actions
You mean like existing dangerous driving laws?
These posts express my own personal views, not those of my employer
You can pick your friends and you can pick your nose but you can't pick your friend's nose.
Um, no. You rear ended a truck because you gunned your gas without paying attention to what was in front of you. Pulling out the fritter at the red light wasn't the issue - not returning your attention to the road when the time came was.
"People who think they know everything are very annoying to those of us who do."-Mark Twain