» Ontario Premier Proposes Blanket Ban on Handheld Devices While DrivingTelecommunications Industry News

Telecom News Editorials Reports Glossary

Ontario Premier Proposes Blanket Ban on Handheld Devices While Driving

7:05 am on May 29, 2008 | Category: Cell Phones, Editorials, Mobile Devices, Regulation

Ontario motorists could soon be prohibited from using handheld devices, such as cell phones, PDAs, or GPS navigators while behind the wheel, as the province’s Premier, Dalton McGuinty announced earlier this week that he was considering far-reaching “safety” legislation for drivers.

McGuinty was on record as recently as April saying that there was little point to banning cell phones behind the wheel, because there are any number of distracting activities that drivers can engage in. He claims to have changed his mind, however, after a number of recent fatal accidents where cell phones are thought to have been a factor.

“I’ve always said I’ll do what the police think is important and make our roads safer,” Mr. McGuinty said on Tuesday.

But the Premier, who is also pushing a bill to ban smoking in cars when children are present, isn’t planning to stop at cell phones. He has asked his Transportation Minister, Jim Bradley, to consider “next generation” legislation that would take into account all handheld electronic devices.

“What about people who are tapping on the GPS system? What about the next gadget that they haven’t invented yet?” McGuinty asked. “I know what they’ve done in other provinces and other states. They’ve just dealt with one item – a cellphone.”

But while chatting on the phone while driving might not be the best idea, the public should be cautious of McGuinty’s proposal. His intentions seem to go far beyond placing limits on a particularly reckless activity, and into the realm of banning anything that could be categorized as a “distraction.”

Between seatbelt laws, smoking restrictions, and the proposed banning of mobile device usage, Ontario’s “Liberal” government is gradually intruding further into the private domain of individual choice. “Safety-first” is a great attitude, but state-mandated safety at the expense of liberty should not be accepted without question.

Telecommunications Industry News