Alberta gets a more comprehensive "distracted driving" ban

Submitted by David on Thu, 2010-11-18 16:26

Per the Calgary Herald the ban is likely to take effect mid-2011. It bans

- hand-held cellphones. Motorists will still be able to talk on a mobile phone in hands-free mode;

and the article then goes on to note that

However, the transportation minister concedes he talks on his phone while driving using a hands-free device.

The problem: hands-free cell phones aren't any safer. Another case of politics as usual: appearance over results.

Also on the banned list is

- fiddling with MP3 players. Drivers can only adjust music players that have controls connected to vehicles. MP3 players must be programmed in advance;

I wonder: would using "controls connected to vehicles" really be all that much safer?