Ban cell phone use while driving: Safety Council

From News 1130:

Increases risk of crashes fourfold

Connie Thiessen VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) | Friday, August 7th, 2009 11:04 am

Being on your phone and driving could soon be a thing of the past (News1130 Photo)

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - The BC Safety Council is recommending a total ban on cell phone use while driving -- it also wants a ban on other electronic devices.

Executive Director Bryan Lowes says cell phone use increases the risk of a crash fourfold and US research suggests it's leading to the deaths of as many as 8,000 people on the road each year.

Lowes says the council wants the ban to go further than just phones. "Any kind of text messaging while in motion, laptop and onboard computers that are accessible by the driver, video devices like DVD players where the screen is visible by the driver sitting in the driver's seat."

Lowes says despite worldwide publicity about the dangers of cell phone use while driving, people just aren't getting the message.

Friday is the last day to give the provincial government your two cents on the use of cell phones while driving.