As any driver will tell you, drivers who talk extensively on their cell phones while behind the wheel can be a terrible annoyance, and in some cases, incredibly dangerous. As cell phone use becomes more integrated in everyday life, the calls for banning cell phone use while driving have been increasing in frequency and fervor, leading to strict new laws in countries and states all across the world.

But Ontario will not follow suit, as Premier Dalton McGuinty announced in November 2007, promising not to enact any ban, though conceding that talking on a cell phone while driving, among other distracting activities, can be dangerous, City News reports. Knowing where to draw the line between cell phones and other distractions in contemplating such a ban is the primary difficulty in enacting such a law, according to McGuinty.

In Ontario, there have been several recent efforts to impose a ban on cell phone use while driving, including the proposal of Liberal MPP Kevin Flynn of Oakville who sought to implement a cell phone ban that would specifically target new and young drivers. These efforts never fully passed through legislature.

McGuinty’s resistance to imposing such a law contrasts recent legislation introduced in Quebec and Newfoundland, where cell phone use on the road has been banned in an attempt to curb careless driving.

While there won’t be any new laws to deter motorists from talking on their phones while driving in Ontario, there are still several safety considerations they should take before heading out on the road, as suggested by Transport Canada.

• Turn the phone off before you start driving. Let callers leave a message.
• If there are passengers in the vehicle, let one of them take or make the call. If you’re expecting an important call, let someone else drive.
• If you have to make or receive a call, look for a safe opportunity to pull over and park.

What if you can’t avoid using it?

• Use only a speakerphone or a hands-free phone. Make sure you put on the hands-free accessories before you start driving. But remember: hands-free isn’t risk-free.
• If you must use a hand-held phone, place it where it will be readily accessible. Trying to retrieve a phone from a briefcase, handbag or pocket can be especially dangerous.
• Don’t answer the phone until you have checked that it is safe to do so.
• Use speed dial options. If you know you’ll need to call an unprogrammed number, dial the number before starting off and send the call at your convenience.
• Driving and talking on a phone at the same time is difficult. Don’t make it worse by trying to read or take notes. Pull over and stop.
• Keep calls short and factual. Emotional or thought-provoking conversations are distracting.
• It’s good etiquette to ask a caller to hold until you can park, or to say you’ll return the call as soon as it’s safe to do so.
• Stay in the right-hand lane, where driving may be less demanding.
• When reporting an emergency situation from a cell phone, pull over and ensure you are not in the flow of traffic. If you must keep driving, remember your primary concern is to avoid causing another emergency.

City News also included a list of provinces, states and countries where cell phone bans have already been put forward:

Canada

Newfoundland and Labrador (Enacted April 1, 2003)

United States

New York State,
New Jersey,
Connecticut,
District of Columbia

World

Australia
Austria
Belgium
Brazil
Chile
Czech Republic
Denmark
Egypt
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hong Kong
Hungary
India
Ireland
Isle of Mann
Israel
Italy
Japan
Kenya
Malaysia
Netherlands
Norway
Pakistan-Islamabad
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Singapore
Slovak Republic
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Thailand
Turkey
Turkmenistan
UK

A reminder to all you gabbers out there: Even though there is no cell phone ban in place, getting into an accident as the result of an ill-timed conversation can land you serious charges, like careless driving and dangerous driving under provincial law.

At Legal Action, the rules of the road are our specialty, and we are committed to following the developments of new laws, proposals and discussions relevant to Ontario’s motorists. Get the facts and get Legal Action!