Legislation in Saskatchewan is changing to state drivers can no longer “view, hold or manipulate a cell phone while driving,” according to SGI.
“Effective Jan 1 you can’t even hold your cell phone in your hand, that would be against the law,” SGI representative Kelley Brinkworth said.
New drivers with a graduated license are not allowed to use Bluetooth or a speaker phone. However experienced drivers are allowed hands-free devices only.
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“If you are an experienced driver, hands-free devices are allowed, that would include the Bluetooth that’s included in the car or if you have a mount for the dashboard or a cradle of some sort that would be considered hands-free. You are allowed to use that,” Brinkworth said.
Once a cellphone is placed on a mount or in a hands-free style, only a single touch of a button is allowed. This single touch is intended to activate voice commands if they are not already active.
“If it’s going to require more… you couldn’t be sitting here texting away on your phone that mounted on your dash that is completely not allowed,” Brinkworth added.
According to SGI, a driver who is on a cellphone is three to six times more likely to be involved in a collision.
CAA supports the new legislation but said there is still more that needs to be done. Christine Niemczyk, director of communications with CAA Saskatchewan, described driving distractions as more than physical.
“One is manual, your taking your hands off the steering wheel, the second one is visual where the eyes are taken off the road and the third for the driver is cognitive which mean your mind isn’t focused on driving while your behind the wheel and driving in a safe manner.”
Sgt. Collin Glass, with Regina Police Traffic Services, said the new legislation beginning in January will not change the way they enforce distracted driving.
“We’re still going to be looking for people that are not concentrating at the task at hand, which is looking down into their lap, or fiddling around with stuff inside that the vehicle that they shouldn’t be.”