Just a quick reminder that effective Jan 1, 2010 all drivers caught holding, communicating, texting or WATCHING the screen of a hand-held electronic device will be subject to a fine and penalty in BC.
Hands-free devices are allowed while driving if:
The electronic device is not held or operated by the hand
It is voice-activated or requires only one touch in order to initiate, accept or end a call
If the device includes an earpiece, that earpiece can be worn in one ear only and must be placed on the ear prior to driving
The electronic device is securely fixed to the vehicle or worn securely on the person's body, and is within the easy reach of the driver's seat
* Manual dialing is prohibited and is treated as texting.
Caught in the act?
Talking on the hand-held cell phone - $167 fine and no penalty points
Texting, e-mailing or dialing - $167 fine and 3 penalty points
For more information, including MP3 and GPS restrictions, visit the ICBC website: www.drivecellsafe.com
Driving while talking on the cell phone is definitely one of my personal pet peeves (which, hypocritically, I'm guilty of doing in the past). I used to get away with it while driving long stretches where distractions are minimal, but in places like downtown Vancouver where pedestrians outnumber the traffic and everywhere is an intersection? It's just stupid. In our era of iPhone and Blackberry, I welcome these new laws. Do you?
