February was designated distracted driving month under the alberta traffic safety plan. How distracted driving affects insurance in edmonton mbs. Many of those deaths could have been prevented had people abstained from using their cellphones while driving. Even as a ham operator, where in a place like alberta there are very few restrictions on amateur radio, you can not have any buttons on your mic other than a ptt in bc. A perception that driving is an unproductive, second nature task, and people trying to accomplish more in less time. Albertas new distracted driving laws blankit safety. Berlin law it is illegal to use a handheld phone in the european union eu.
Or you could just buy a cobra 29ltdbt which comes with bluetooth installed. Alberta s distracted driving laws are strict and increasingly comprehensive. It also prohibits the use of other electronic devices, reading, writing, and personal grooming while driving. Theres no denying it the laws governing distracted driving in alb erta are here to stay and for good reason. The truth behind distracted driving costen insurance. Twoway radios and distracted driving in alberta tridon. Legislators in alberta, canada have introduced tough new distracted driving laws that target much more than just cellphone use and texting. The rcmp reminds canadians that you can be fined for wearing earphones while driving.
Rules for driving with earphones in every province in canada. Some states, such as alaska, have large fines for incidents caused by driving. Discussion in amateur radio news started by ve6ns, jun 23, 2011. Mobile devices can be a source of distraction, or a way to make your workplace smarter, safer, and more productive. While there are exceptions for handsfree calls and emergency communications, the list of prohibited activities is long. Use of electronic devices while driving british columbia. Top 10 excuses police hear from drivers using cellphones. Fines for firsttime offenders will more than double from the. There has been lots written on the new handsfree driving laws soon to be enforced in alberta, so this article will just touch on the highlights and present a couple of solutions.
Seen a lady yesterday near the u of a with a phone on her windshield right in front. More crashes involved distracted driving than drunken driving in pennsylvania in 2017, state data show. Drivers are not allowed to engage in any activity that distracts them from the operation of the vehicle, even while stopped at a red light. Im give alberta credit for doing what too many states in the us dont have the guts to do but should have a long time ago. According to aaa, 92 percent of pennsylvania drivers are concerned that other motorists are jeopardizing their safety by using phones behind the wheel. Pay attention to the road as rcmp focus on distracted. Distracted driving has gained a lot of attention in the media these days.
Distracted driving and fatigued driving royal canadian. Your guide to utahs distracted driving laws trusted choice. The law applies to all motor vehicles as defined by the traffic safety act. Distracted driving facts vary from state to state, as do the penalties for breaking these laws. Cell phones have fast become invaluable tools that keep us connected to every aspect of our lives. Distracted driving is extremely dangerous, taking the lives of more than 3,000 americans each year, according to the national highway traffic safety administration nhtsa. Ama distracted driving ama alberta motor association. How distracted driving can affect your insurance rate in edmonton according to cbc news, the rcmp now has a longer lens that can track a distracted driver from 1. The following activities are not currently restricted under alberta s distracted driving law. Distracted driving is a growing issue in airdrie according to rcmp, which issued more than 1,100 tickets in 2019. Exempts headsets when used and designed to improve a drivers hearing ability or use navigational devices. Clayton gelinas, an officer with the cochrane rcmp detachment.
This is especially true with how restrictive the distracted driving laws are in bc. New alberta law set to target distracted drivers fort. Alberta s new distracted driving rules went into effect sept. Calgary, alberta marketwire 112910 using, viewing or even holding a cell phone while driving will soon become illegal in alberta under the recently passed distracted driving law.
Use of electronic devices while driving in british columbia, the motor vehicle act mva defines british columbia road laws and delegates authority to the superintendent of motor vehicles to regulate driver behaviour. If you want ssb, youre sol with the 29, but these are some of your handsfree options. Since january 1, 2010, amendments to the mva have prohibited the use of handheld electronic devices while driving. Pleas from the public have urged alberta transportation to change the current distracted driving law. Typically each series or individual radio requires its own software package. Employee productivity tracking software truce software. Some eu countries also ban the use of a handsfree device. The remote mic and remote ptt are bc distracted driving law compliant. The alberta motor association estimates that 3,000 tickets were written in the law s first four months. The new law bill 16, which is in effect from september 1st, will specifically target use of laptops and other visual display devices, as well as other forms of distraction. Not cheap, but im certain that there are other brands and sites that sell for less.
Distracted driving laws vary by state, and when you cross that state line you are required to follow their laws. No prohibition on wearing of headsets while driving. This is similar to australian road rules, which legislate against. The law is one of the most comprehensive in the country and will improve road safety in calgary by restricting drivers from the following. The law, new to alberta and the most comprehensive distracted driving legislation in canada, prohibits the use of handheld cell phones for talking or texting while driving. And in alberta, the province with the newest and toughest distracted driving laws, only 30 of the 4050 charges made by rcmp were for distracted driving violations. The various other vendors often permit their dealers to sell the software online i. August 1, 2019 alberta rcmp focus august enforcement efforts on distracted driving edmonton summers are a great time for albertans to hit the roads and enjoy outdoor activities.
Drivers of many types of vehicles on rural and urban roads can be fined for distracted driving. The issue of distracted driving is increasing in cochrane, according to const. However, their use has also played a notable role in the increase of distracted driving incidents nationwide. Licensees of child care facilities must ensure that an individual who uses a motor vehicle to transport enrolled. Distracted driving legislation highlights effective september 1, 2011, restricts drivers from. Alberta drivers banned from texting, cellphone calls cbc. During the 2018 heritage day long weekend, there were eight fatalities. Wearing an audio headset or earplugs is not permitted while driving. Here is a bluetooth adapter setup designed for use with 2way radios. We believe that if you can enable just those apps and functions that are relevant to the task while minimizing the interrupting pings, buzzes and other diversions, mobile devices can unleash employees in every field to do their best.
Claiming ignorance of the law will not get you out of a citation, so be sure to check on the current laws for any states you may be traveling through before you take your next road trip. Most states have put hands free phone laws in place to. David called steele on your side wanting to know if its legal to wear headphones while driving. As a result, too many drivers focus on secondary tasks while driving. Over the victoria day long weekend officers were using these high quality lenses to catch distracted drivers across the country in addition to the traditional r. Alberta distracted driving edmonton police hand out valentines cookies to practise safe text. The laws and penalties in other provinces and territories vary with the exception of nunavut, where there is no distracted driving law on the books presently. As such, most states have put laws into place to reduce the number of related incidents. While gelinas said no statistics are available regarding the issue, the increased prevalence of devices available to distract people has resulted in a notable increase in distracted driving in recent years. With heritage day coming up, police expect an increased volume of drivers on alberta roads.
Distracted driving is also considered one of the highrisk driving infractions that lead to early intervention and driving prohibitions as part of b. Distracted driving has become one of the leading causes for car accidents. Here is a quick comparison of some distracted driving regulations around the world. Is distracted driving that much of an issue on alberta s roads. The story of randis ticket sparked outrage among critics who say b. This stops nobody from being on their phone, texting, gps etc. This bad habit causes millions of collisions every year in north america, and many of those are unfortunately fatal. Using, viewing or even holding a cell phone while driving will soon be illegal in alberta under the new distracted driving law. Activities that are not specifically restricted under the law are. Saskatchewan may have the stiffest penalties for drivers convicted of distracted driving at the moment. In the case of distracted driving, apple is not the only tech giant recognizing the dangerous behavior and not preventing it.
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