As I drive along Highway 11, my blackberry delicately perched on my lap and amidst several annoying cell phone callers, I notice that Brad Wall and the Saskatchewan Party government are about to ban the use of cell phones while driving and especially the practice of texting while driving. Just kidding by the way, I really am sitting at my desk and not driving along while texting or googling or anything else. Like probably just about everyone I have to admit that it is a practice I have engaged in and while not very intelligent, especially texting, it is difficult to really argue against this legislation. Texting especially should be outright banned as that is just plain stupid. Legislation against talking on the cell phone though I am not so quick to endorse even a hand held one.
I like to think that I can operate my vehicle with one hand on the wheel, talk on the cell phone and still be aware of everything thats going on around me. Statistics though apparently say otherwise. I won't bore you my recounting SGI's numbers. I am sure they have their stats down right but I wonder about other things.
1) Drivers coming out of a restaurant drive through with a drink and a burger in their hand or a doughnut or muffin. How attentive are they as they steer with one hand and munch away with the other.
2) How many times have you seen drivers with a little dog perched on their lap as they weave through traffic? Are they fully aware of everything around them? If their airbag ever went off that little Shitzu would be nothing but shit zu all over their lap.
3) Applying make up, brushing your hair, putting on lipstick. Are drivers going to be charged for those things? Will Brad and
the boys soon come up with hair brushing legislation
4) What about that GPS sitting on the dash board? I have seen countless drivers programming one of those things and have to admit I even did it myself las week as I drove down the freeway in Montreal.
5) Finally if its about attentiveness and awareness how can head sets or these new gadgets that come through the car's speaker system be any better. The driver is still distracted. So really the legislation would appear to be more about having both hands on the wheel rather than awareness. If thats the case it could mean an end to all those famous Saskatchewan farmers tans.
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