As of January 1 this year in BC it’s a mass return to listening to our radio stations in our cars.
In BC we now have to let our cell phones ring through to voice mail while driving; our government passed a law saying we can’t use hand-held devices while operating a motor vehicle.
Our kindly police officers have said they’ll give us all a break and won’t give out pricey tickets until February 1, 2010. It appears we have a “cooling off” period in BC.
In case you’re wondering, the law in BC applies to hand-held devices, not hands-free devices. This mean you can drive and talk as long as the device you’re talking into is not in your hand.
Don’t take this law lightly. It’s easy for officers to spot hand-held use and fine is an expensive $167. Surely a chat while you drive is not worth $167.
If you have a learners or a novice licence, you’re really stuck without a chatting option. The new law mandates that both hand-held and hands-free devices are denied to you.
For some of you who don’t understand why our government would pass a law, consider looking into some of the statistics about cell phone use and texting while driving. The numbers are pretty staggering; many, many, many people have been maimed, killed, and badly hurt in horrific car accidents caused by distracted drivers using their cell phones.
Our government last fall was persuaded that the number of accidents, many of which were catastrophic, caused by negligent driving as a result of using some device was simply too high to let our distracted, but not-bored driving lifestyle continue.
So while we’ve been planning for a January 1, 2010 start to silent driving, or at least returning to our satellite radio players, we have until February 1, 2010 until we’ll see the red and blue lights for chatting on the phone.
With mobile phones practically becoming the new personal computer, this type of law will probably get drivers to again focus on driving rather than working and being entertained.
Looking for a British Columbia car accident lawyer, then visit Dykstra & Company to get information on your ICBC claim.