Still talking and driving, texting and driving? A law prohibiting handheld cellphone use in vehicles has been on the books in Saskatchewan since Nov. 25, 2009. A little over two years later it seems many drivers don't think the law is enforceable.
As one observer remarked this week, the first thing an errant driver will do when spotting a police patrol vehicle is ditch the phone. The only way to catch lawbreakers in the act is by using unmarked police units, which seems like a frivolous use of the resource. But is it?
When one hears of a fatal accident in which occupants of a passenger vehicle died when their vehicle crashed into the back of a semi, the immediate reaction is, "hmmm, wonder if they were talking on the cellphone." In another accident this month people were injured when their car crashed into the back of a bus carrying adult hockey players. Both rear ended vehicles certainly have a commanding presence on the road so "I just didn't see it there," doesn't seem to fit the scenario.
Whether or not these unfortunate victims died as a result of someone choosing to flout the cellphone law is pure speculation, but anyone driving around this community and on the highway can attest to the fact cellphone use while driving is alive and well in Saskatchewan.
It's time to give the practice a funeral instead of highway victims.
That's it from my corner. How about letting me know what you've observed from yours? Email me at [email protected] with "my corner" in the subject line and I'll share your observations with our readers.
Also visit www.newsoptimist.ca ad vote in our online poll. The subject this week is cellphone use and driving.
