Texting behind the wheel: more dangerous than drinking and driving?
Students share their thoughts on the new cell phone ban while driving in BC
By Mae Valesco [Contributor]
As of Jan. 1, 2010, the cell phone ban is in effect. There will be no dialing, texting, or answering any cell phone calls or any electronic portable handheld device while driving. Doing so will cause a $167 fine and a three point penalty against your driving record.
This cell phone and electronic ban is in effect since many drivers are distracted while driving causing many accidents and dangers on the road. If it starts ringing, let it ring! Let it go to voicemail, get help from your passengers so they may pick-up the phone for you, and drive safely. Handsfree devices such as bluetooth are available for purchase at your nearest electronic store. Research says, it is best to have this rule in effect for you and for everyone’s safety.
By Matt Law[Contributor]
Come Feb. 1, any one still talking or texting on their cell phone will be subject to a $167 fine and three penalty points on their license. I have to be honest, this seems like an egregious decision on the part of the government.
We are currently living in a time of economic uncertainty and students are in no position to begin shelling out money for new bluetooth cell phones and headsets. Nor can those of us who will attempt to continue texting while driving afford the $167 fine we will undoubtedly receive for doing nothing more than trying to go about our lives.
Sure, texting might distract a select few of the population to the point of causing an accident, but most of us have grown up as a multitasking generation and can quite easily text, eat a bowl of cereal and drive to school at the same time. In fact I saw a cognitively advanced individual doing this the other day.
Perhaps the B.C. government should invest in a better public transit system so we could talk and text to our hearts content while being safely driven by someone else. Now I know what you’re thinking, this would lead to wide spread throat punches as transit users are enraged by loud, chatty, teenage girls but this is the price we would have to pay.
I for one refuse to support a law that is obviously an attempt by elderly policy makers to end the process of evolution and advancement in the young and virile generation.
If you can’t text and drive safely you clearly are not cut out for this new age of multitasking and the process of natural selection will remove you from the genetic pool, problem solved – no need for a ban.
