Ontario ban on driving distractions passes final reading.

By Romina Maurino, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Wednesday, April 22, 2009

TORONTO - Get your hands off those cellphones, Ontario drivers - a new law that bans using hand-held devices to talk, email, or send text messages while behind the wheel was passed Wednesday.

The new rules, which won’t come into effect until at least the fall, include a fine of up to $500 as the province joins other jurisdictions in cracking down on drivers using the devices.

"What we’re trying to do is to avoid distractions while people are driving - those distractions being caused, in this case, by electronic devices that are hand-held," said Transportation Minister Jim Bradley, adding he has no plans to ban eating or drinking coffee in cars.

The law doesn’t affect the use of hands-free devices such as Bluetooths or using cellphones for 911 calls, but it does ban portable video games, MP3 players and DVD players.

Global positioning systems will be allowed, as long as they’re properly secured to the dashboard.

There are no demerit points attached to the bill, but drivers who place others at risk by using one of the banned devices can also be charged under existing careless driving laws.

The law exempts firefighters, police and paramedics, but several other groups have also asked for a pass.

The Transportation Ministry is considering additional exemptions for devices used to dispatch, track and monitor commercial drivers, but said more changes are unlikely.

"There are organizations that have come forward to say (they) believe they should have an exemption," Bradley said. "We’ll have to evaluate that very carefully.

"We will be extremely reluctant as a government to grant any exemptions unless a very compelling case could be made for that."

Bradley wouldn’t give a specific date for the ban to take effect, noting it still needs to go through certain legislative processes and an education period so the public learns the rules.

But he said drivers can expect the change to come "later this year, possibly in the fall."

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said she supported the bill, noting if people must communicate while driving, there are hands-free gadgets that allow them to do so.

"Technology exists that can prevent people from having to use a hand-held device, and I think that’s where the biggest concern is in terms of distraction," she said.

Ontario is the fourth province to enact such a ban, following Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec and Nova Scotia.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, which in 2003 became the first province to ban the use of hand-held cellphones, the penalties range from $11 to $400 plus four demerit points.

Quebec motorists face fines of $115 plus the loss of three demerit points, while Nova Scotia’s fines start at $164.50 for a first offence and grow to $337 for subsequent offences.

In the first year after Nova Scotia made it illegal for drivers to use hand-held cellphones, close to 2,000 tickets were handed out by police.

In Quebec, the latest statistics show at least 12,000 tickets have been handed out by Montreal and provincial police since last July. Hand-held devices were banned on April 1, 2008, but Quebec drivers were given a three-month grace period.

Manitoba introduced legislation in November that proposed fines of at least $190 for using hand-held cellphones or for smoking while there are children in a vehicle, while Prince Edward Island is also considering a ban.

Rescuers Locate Injured Man Using GPS Coordinates and Airlift Him to Nearby Hospital

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, 24 September 2008 - Globalstar Canada Satellite Co. reported today that on August 22, 2008 experienced hiker and Canadian oil analyst Michael Ervin, set off to enjoy a backcountry wilderness trip to the base of Mount Assiniboine, one of the highest and most distinctive peaks in the Canadian Rockies outside of Banff. A bad fall under the weight of his forty-five pound backpack left Mr. Ervin with a ruptured quadriceps tendon to his knee, unable to put any weight on his leg and 10 kilometers from the nearest road with no cell phone coverage.

"I heard a loud snap from my leg and could see my knee cap hanging loose, lower than usual," said Michael Ervin, President of fuel-analysis firm MJ Ervin & Associates of Calgary. "I was experiencing shock and knew I was unable to walk. I needed real help and pressed the 9-1-1 button on my SPOT Satellite Messenger to notify emergency responders of my GPS location coordinates."

The SPOT Satellite Messenger™ is a personal safety device which enables users to communicate via satellite technology from remote locations around the globe and initiate check-in and emergency response calls independently of cellular networks.

Banff National Parks, which maintains a 24/7 rescue office, immediately dispatched a local Parks helicopter to Mr. Ervin's exact location. He was flown to Banff Mineral Springs Hospital and underwent surgery the next day.

"As a pilot, I learned about SPOT through my membership with COPA (Canadian Owners and Pilots Association) and purchased the device because it was more affordable than other PLBs and due to its GPS location capability SPOT is far more reliable than the 121.5 ELT," added Mr. Ervin. "Because it's small and lightweight, I take SPOT with me on my backpacking trips to stay connected with my family and friends at home. This time, it proved vital in getting me the quick medical attention that I needed."

Mr. Ervin is no stranger to this wilderness area. This was his third attempt of reaching the base of Mount Assiniboine by foot along the 29 Kilometer Citadel Pass Trail. His previous attempts were never completed due to a forest fire one year and inclement weather brought on by an early winter storm during a later attempt.

"This is but a speed bump on the highway of life, and after I have completed my recovery in the next few months I will try to make it back to Mount Assiniboine."

About SPOT Satellite Messenger
The SPOT Satellite Messenger, the world's first satellite messenger, uses both the GPS satellite network to determine a customer's location and the SPOT network to transmit that information to friends, family or an emergency service center. SPOT provides lifesaving communications technology that allows users to communicate from remote locations around the globe. Thanks to this affordable, cutting-edge personal safety device, the company offers people peace of mind by allowing customers to notify friends and family of their location and status, and to send for emergency assistance in time of need, completely independent of cellular phone or wireless coverage. For more information on how SPOT is helping users live to tell about it - from disaster preparedness to outdoor adventure purposes - visit www.findmespot.com.

FACT:

Using a cell phone while driving

• changes average driving speed
• decreases the “safe distance” between vehicles
• slows brake reaction time

Under Ontario’s proposed legislation, drivers who text, type, email, dial or chat using a prohibited hand-held device could face fines of up to $500.
This law has already been passed in Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as several U.S. states.
Only emergency personnel will be permitted to use hand-held wireless communication devices for their duties.
At CRC Communications we understand how important being able to communicate while away from home can be. We also know that your safety, and the safety of others is important. That’s why we have options for your hands free needs.
Come see our selection of approved hands-free devices and have one of our wireless communications representatives help you choose the right product for your business or personal needs.