We are relieved to see that a recent survey says that nine in 10 Canadians agree with distracted driving laws.
But we’re really excited to see that two-thirds of Canadians in that same survey support distracted walking legislation.
Yes, we know what the one-third opposed say: “We don’t need any more laws.” “It’s just a government cash-grab” and “Don’t the police have better things to do?”
But we say: ring it in.
There’s not a morning in most workplaces that doesn’t include the ubiquitous sharing of commuting horror stories.
Drivers, still shaky from the close calls, regale each other with tales of pedestrians camouflaged in all-black clothing, often covering their face with a black umbrella, walking across streets, of pedestrians engrossed in their cellphones even bumping into cars, of pedestrians jaywalking while looking at their cellphones.
Horns are honked, fists are waved.
But the pedestrians seem to meander on seemingly thinking they are immortal.
When pedestrians are struck by a vehicle, it is almost always assumed that the driver was at fault in some way.
And, to be sure, there are a lot of drivers checking cellphones and not looking at the road. And drivers who should stick to the speed limit.
But the combination of drivers looking at their cellphones at the same time as pedestrians are looking at theirs surely seems to be a recipe for human extinction.
In July, Toronto city council passed a motion calling for the Province of Ontario to amend the Highway Traffic Act to ban residents from using mobile devices “while on any travelled portion of a roadway.”
In the Lower Mainland only two Vancouver city councillors have voiced support for such a law.
And let’s be clear, while we obviously don’t want people to get hurt – even if it’s their own darn fault – we all end up having to bear the costs for their risky behaviour. And not just in dollars and cents. Lives are ruined, no matter who is at fault.
So let’s start fining those people who can’t even stop looking at their cellphone long enough to cross a busy street.
And, for those drivers who are still using their phones while driving – let’s not just fine them, let’s impound their phones as well. At least they won’t be looking at the darn things when they drive to the cellphone impound place to get them back.
