Discussions

So recently there was a change to distracted driving penalties. This i:ncludes increased fines and liscence suspensions. As well as a ten year period with no grace. Get caught again and fines and suspension increases.  
Personally I think it is about time these changes were brought in. Oh I can here the whining from some guilty parties now ha ha ha  
Thoughts anyone.

With these new fines. There is no valid reason for anyone (including doctors or police) to use their phone to text while driving.

phones could be rendered inoperative when not stationary,end of problem,

My friends and family get mad because i dont use my phone while driving. Hopefully this changes thier mindd

so passengers cant use them to get directions, let someone know they are running late ect???

I hope these people will get a fine to. An animals jumping around the vehicle and even in and out of the drivers lap while going down the road is a huge distraction.

Police are on their phones all the time. But we all know they will never get ticketed!! The law is made for everyone else, not them!

Wow! There's quite the police bashing going on. Like it or not, the police are to enforce the laws and have training to drive while using a cell phone. Just don't speed, stay off your cell phone or do something stupid and all is good.

unbreakable1 said "Wow! There's quite the police bashing going on. Like it or not, the police are to enforce the laws and have training to drive while using a cell phone. Just don't speed, stay off your cell phone or do something stupid and all is good. "

yes there is a law allowing police to use cells and PCs while driving ect but imo it should be very limited, the driving courses they receive are no more en-depth them a lot of other professional drivers receive yet their is no exemption for how many driving courses you have, fact of the matter is police are human and using this equipment is distraction to all of us so i disagree with the law, but unfortunately not a lot i can do about it :I

They are pretty clear on Cell Phone usage in car. As per MPI if it is mounted in hands free device looks like you are okay. Can't touch, but can have it mounted to dash or windshield.  
 
"Distractions aren’t just dangerous. In Manitoba it’s illegal to use, or even check, a hand-operated electronic device, such as a cellphone, smartphone or tablet, while driving – unless it is safely anchored in a hands-free mode.  
 
Drivers convicted of violating this law receive a driver’s licence suspension, $672 fine and five demerits. "  
 
My issue is the vagueness of the law.  
 
In your vehicle  
• smartphones or tablets  
• GPS navigation and other technology features  
• passengers — including pets  
• adjusting your audio systems, climate control or other devices  
• eating, drinking and smoking  
• personal grooming  
Outside your vehicle  
• nearby activities  
• commercial signs  
• domestic animals and wildlife  
• emergency situations, construction and accidents  
 
So if I'm looking at a sign on the road, will I get pulled over. I know there list is just pointing out factors that can distract you.  
 
New cars have "Tablet" that controls everything. That could very easily be locked/disabled when car is in drive. But if you need to adjust the temperature of your vehicle. need to pull over and stop, just to adjust fan speed or temp.  
 
Look down at a red light, not even at your phone, but phone is on your person or in cup holder, that is enough to get a ticket/suspension.  
 
Now lets really crack down on drinking and driving. You even smell like alcohol automatic 3 day suspension of license. Or more. Drinking/High and driving to me is worse. On your phone, more then likely only on for a second or two. Impaired that is your whole drive.  
 
The whole disabling your phone when moving is never going to happen. To prevent a small fraction of people from using their phone when driving, they are not going to prevent every person in the world from using their phone when in motion.

mackenzie5 said "phones could be rendered inoperative when not stationary,end of problem, "

So how does a phone know who is driving and who is a passenger? They cant. If im a passenger and quietly on my phone not talking to the driver even, thats the best option vs chatting with the driver further distracting him.  
 
You can't limit phone use because the phone is moving. Nobody would ever do that, for a multitude of reasons.

unbreakable1 said "Wow! There's quite the police bashing going on. Like it or not, the police are to enforce the laws and have training to drive while using a cell phone. Just don't speed, stay off your cell phone or do something stupid and all is good. "

The officers do not have any special training to use cell phones while driving. Everyone should stay off their phones

mackenzie5 said "phones could be rendered inoperative when not stationary,end of problem, "

Yep. As a phone but texting or data Sharing no. Any jamming would affect in car communications between some mundane or some important systems, top of mind is probably heads up displays. FM transmitter for satellite radio or music players. In current and future cars there is more to wireless than cell phones. Talking on a phone is less dangerous than glancing down at a text message or following google maps on a cell sitting on the seat instead of a dash Mount.  
 
They will mandate (goverment) new in car displays to block out shared cell signals from your phone. That is easy. Once the car is in gear that portion of the display goes inactive. I doubt if shared data will be blocked. Too many people use their cells as a GPS enabler.

Nothing like a new vehicle with a 10" touchscreen on the dash staring you in the face. To me that's a lot more distracting than a phone. My old car with buttons that you can feel, I can change radio stations without taking my eyes off the road. Doesn't work with the touchscreen in my truck. It's a terrible idea. Give it a couple years till the manufacturers get permission to run their autopilot cars on the roads and you'll be able to play on your phone without ever looking at the road.