A move by the provincial government to ban handheld cellular telephone use while operating a motor vehicle has caught local police and politicians by surprise.
The change in cell phone use is among amendments proposed last week by Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Murray Scott. He introduced a bill to amend the Motor Vehicle Act and make roads safer for Nova Scotians.
Staff-Sgt. Phil Barrett of the Digby RCMP detachment said he was unaware of the government’s intention, but agrees that cell phone use by drivers can reduce their attention to the road around them.
“It is a distraction, but I’m guilty of it myself,” he said.
If the amendment is passed, said Barrett, police will be enforcing the law. A similar law took effect a few years ago in Newfoundland, he added.
It’s as well the law wasn’t in effect Friday, chuckled Digby-Annapolis MLA Harold Theriault who was interviewed from his car while he drove home from Halifax.
“I’m going to ash Santa for a headset,” he said. “I think (the amendment) is probably a good thing. It will leave two hands free to drive.”
Theriault said he recently had a woman pull out in front of him. He knows she was looking right at his car while talking on her phone, but said she still didn’t see him because her mind was elsewhere.
Cell phone restrictions get nod
- Rate
- Top of the page
