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New Distracted Driving Law
City police will be issuing warnings in advance of new distracted driving legislation set to take effect September 1.
Any form of distracted driving, including eating, grooming, using a handheld cellular device, or a GPS system is grounds for a talking to from police.
"What happens between now and then will be some education, some warnings maybe from officers, but September 1, charges can be laid," says Vince Caleffi, Exec. Dir. for Sheriffs and Security Operations in the province.
http://www.calgarysun.com/2011/06/22/alberta-distracted-driver-law-sept-1
Caleffi says many jurisdictions enforce distracted driving in different ways, but the new legislation brings them together with the same plan of action.
Transportation Minister Luke Ouellette is touting the law as the most "comprehensive" in the country.
"We go into grooming, eating...I think if you've all been on the highway and you've passed people where you see a book on their steering wheel. That's in our legislation," he says.
The law permits a "one touch" rule, meaning a single touch is allowed for activating blue-tooth phones or other devices.
Earlier this month the province revealed traffic related deaths, injuries and crashes fell nearly 25% since 2007. Meantime, 2010 saw 11,730 following-too-closely collisions on Edmonton streets. The city says now that number is bound to drop.
"I think the whole issue of traffic safety culture in Edmonton and in the province requires more education, more opportunities for really getting drivers focused on the task of driving," says Gerry Shimko with Edmonton Traffic and Safety.
The province is rolling out an educational campaign before the law takes effect that will include newspaper, radio and online ads.
Distracted driving legislation was first proposed years ago, but it was shot down twice.
Darshan Kang, transportation critic for the Alberta Liberals says when the Liberals called for a cellphone ban in 2000, they were called "crazy." Since then, Kang and his colleagues have since made numerous appeals for a distracted driving law. However, it was a former cop turned MLA who finally convinced government to act.
"I did it by (saying) it's not a rural or urban issue. It has to be all encompassing in Alberta," says Calgary-Hays MLA Art Johnston.
The new law carries a maximum fine of $172 and no demerit points. If a driver is deemed to have committed a more serious offense like running a red light or making an improper lane change, that could be considered driving without due care, which carries a $402 fine and six demerit points.
Insurance agencies can't say for sure whether the law will decrease premiums, but the hope is still there.
"Anything that helps you reduce crashes which cause claims and bodily injury and death is a good thing," says Don Szarko, spokesperson for the Alberta Motor Association.
There are some exceptions to the new law. Emergency personnel, including paramedics and police officers, will be allowed to use phones and other devices if it is for work purposes.
Ouellette says although the goal is to curb dangerous driving habits, cops are expected to use good judgement when handing out tickets.
"We don't want officers out looking for people just doing this particular activity," he says. "If all of a sudden you open a chocolate bar, and you take a bite of that chocolate bar, we don't want a policeman stopping you and giving you a ticket for having that small snack. If you've got a quarter pounder or a double quarter pounder in front of your face and you're using both hands and driving with your knee, then you deserve to get a ticket."
Frequently asked questions and answers about the new law, a poster, fact sheet and more are available on the Alberta Transportation website.
The Traffic Safety (Distracted Driving) Amendment Act 2010 and accompanying distracted driving regulation are available on the Alberta Queen’s Printer website.
Tanara.***@****
Any form of distracted driving, including eating, grooming, using a handheld cellular device, or a GPS system is grounds for a talking to from police.
"What happens between now and then will be some education, some warnings maybe from officers, but September 1, charges can be laid," says Vince Caleffi, Exec. Dir. for Sheriffs and Security Operations in the province.
http://www.calgarysun.com/2011/06/22/alberta-distracted-driver-law-sept-1
Caleffi says many jurisdictions enforce distracted driving in different ways, but the new legislation brings them together with the same plan of action.
Transportation Minister Luke Ouellette is touting the law as the most "comprehensive" in the country.
"We go into grooming, eating...I think if you've all been on the highway and you've passed people where you see a book on their steering wheel. That's in our legislation," he says.
The law permits a "one touch" rule, meaning a single touch is allowed for activating blue-tooth phones or other devices.
Earlier this month the province revealed traffic related deaths, injuries and crashes fell nearly 25% since 2007. Meantime, 2010 saw 11,730 following-too-closely collisions on Edmonton streets. The city says now that number is bound to drop.
"I think the whole issue of traffic safety culture in Edmonton and in the province requires more education, more opportunities for really getting drivers focused on the task of driving," says Gerry Shimko with Edmonton Traffic and Safety.
The province is rolling out an educational campaign before the law takes effect that will include newspaper, radio and online ads.
Distracted driving legislation was first proposed years ago, but it was shot down twice.
Darshan Kang, transportation critic for the Alberta Liberals says when the Liberals called for a cellphone ban in 2000, they were called "crazy." Since then, Kang and his colleagues have since made numerous appeals for a distracted driving law. However, it was a former cop turned MLA who finally convinced government to act.
"I did it by (saying) it's not a rural or urban issue. It has to be all encompassing in Alberta," says Calgary-Hays MLA Art Johnston.
The new law carries a maximum fine of $172 and no demerit points. If a driver is deemed to have committed a more serious offense like running a red light or making an improper lane change, that could be considered driving without due care, which carries a $402 fine and six demerit points.
Insurance agencies can't say for sure whether the law will decrease premiums, but the hope is still there.
"Anything that helps you reduce crashes which cause claims and bodily injury and death is a good thing," says Don Szarko, spokesperson for the Alberta Motor Association.
There are some exceptions to the new law. Emergency personnel, including paramedics and police officers, will be allowed to use phones and other devices if it is for work purposes.
Ouellette says although the goal is to curb dangerous driving habits, cops are expected to use good judgement when handing out tickets.
"We don't want officers out looking for people just doing this particular activity," he says. "If all of a sudden you open a chocolate bar, and you take a bite of that chocolate bar, we don't want a policeman stopping you and giving you a ticket for having that small snack. If you've got a quarter pounder or a double quarter pounder in front of your face and you're using both hands and driving with your knee, then you deserve to get a ticket."
Frequently asked questions and answers about the new law, a poster, fact sheet and more are available on the Alberta Transportation website.
The Traffic Safety (Distracted Driving) Amendment Act 2010 and accompanying distracted driving regulation are available on the Alberta Queen’s Printer website.
Tanara.***@****
Not sure if we have anything like that here, if they do, no one is paying any attention to it. They do have a big deal going about flashing your lights and warning other drivers of a speed trap tho. I dont understand why that is against the law tho, we are helping slow them down by warning them. Isnt that a good thing?
Well, I sure hope they properly enforce it here. I have seen so many near misses due to people texting especially. Brice, that is such a sad story, and is exactly why we need these types of laws. Years ago they tried to ban talking on cells while driving...people were so resistant. It went much smoother this time.
"We've got something similar around these parts, but generally the law enforcement is a bit laxed."
Same here. I don’t know of one person that has been cited. When I sit at a Red Light, at least 50% of the drivers that pass are talking on their phones.
Same here. I don’t know of one person that has been cited. When I sit at a Red Light, at least 50% of the drivers that pass are talking on their phones.
This is very good.
I think that is awesome. We've got something similar around these parts, but generally the law enforcement is a bit laxed.
Horrible accident here a few years back when a young man was killed in a head on. This kid was the type of kid you wanted your kid to be... super nice, looked out for other folks, involved in the community... driving to work one day, bent over to get a cd or mess with his ipod and drove straight into an on coming car. Tragic... the entire community was touched by this horrible accident.
Horrible accident here a few years back when a young man was killed in a head on. This kid was the type of kid you wanted your kid to be... super nice, looked out for other folks, involved in the community... driving to work one day, bent over to get a cd or mess with his ipod and drove straight into an on coming car. Tragic... the entire community was touched by this horrible accident.
As of today this law is in effect in my province. I think its great! $172 ticket if you are caught talking on your cell phone, texting, grooming or reading (amongst other things) while driving. It's about time! Studies have shown that texting while driving is at least equally as dangerous as being impaired while driving. Hopefully this encourages people to pull over first. We have this law in at least 3 or 4 other provinces, and it seems to be working. Curious as to whether you all have laws like this in the US?
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