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1-10 of 31 messages
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Safety First
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by K0BG on October 26, 2009
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This is more poignant than ever. This is from John Pavelich VE3XKD
New rules on Ontario roadways
By Peter West
Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation announced today that Bill 118 – the distracted driving legislation – is coming into effect as of Oct. 26. The new law will make it illegal for drivers to talk, text, type, dial or email using hand-held cell phones and other hand-held communications and entertainment devices. Following a three-month period that begins October 26, where the focus will be on educating drivers, police will start issuing tickets on February 1, 2010.
All two-way radios in all vehicles with the exception of emergency responding vehicles must be hands-free in three years time. This news comes from the official government staffer who has been in communications with Radio Amateurs of Canada over the last year. At the end of the three-year exemption, all commercial, CB and amateur radio equipment used in moving vehicles by the vehicle operator must be hands-free in operation.
Alan, KØBG
www.k0bg.com
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RE: Safety First
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by K6AER on October 26, 2009
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The Canadian law is a classic example of a draconian solution in search of a problem. How many people have accidents from using a radio or cell phone. 20, 100, 500. I’ll bet any time there is an accident and the person has a cell phone in the car the accident report has a box to check off that indicated a cell phone was in the vehicle.
Traffic accidents have been going down on average every year. Any data on how many accidents have been prevented by calling law enforcement on drunk drivers?
People who are distracted from talking on a communication device will be distracted wither they are using Blue Tooth or a hand mic. The mind is distracted not the hand.
What this will do is impact general safety. I did not see if you have a non Bluetooth radio in the vehicle is that is a safety violation of is it a violation to be using a hand held radio. I can see the next level…tinted windows are illegal for the officer can’t see in the vehicle.
There will not be enough officers to enforce this ill conceived nanny law so the Canadian government will need to have blue tooth cops. To pay for the Blue Tooth Cops their will be a $300 per year cell phone tax. Being US visiting tourist, we will have to pay the tax at the boarder crossing after a strip search for cell phones. Their tiny you know.
Next level of distraction is no food, coffee, and doughnuts…no doughnuts!...what about the cops?
Just wait for the both hands-on-the-wheel legislation. How about having three traffic observers in each vehicle to warn the driver about hazards he can’t see. I’m thinking of mother in laws in action. But wait, with all that information the driver will be distracted. Better get two drivers with dual wheels like commercial aircraft.
Idiots behind the wheel will still be idiots behind the wheel no mater what the legislation or good intentions are. You can’t legislate stupid.
By the way, nice article Alan sorry for the rant.
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RE: Safety First
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by K6AER on October 26, 2009
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I forgot to add the real problem is not talking on wireless devices but controlling them. So the next level of wireless devices including ham radio, CB and land mobile communication will be total voice recognition command and control. Text messaging is not a hand free problem but an eyes off the road problem. Blue tooth does not solve this problem.
It is obvious nobody has thought this through. The land mobile business will vanish overnight. Cities will be forced to pay enormous amounts for communication upgrades for every vehicle will need a full time communicator on board.
AND THIS IS THE COUNTRY WE WANT TO MODEL OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AFTER??????? NOT ME.
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RE: Safety First
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by K0BG on October 26, 2009
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No problem, Mike. It is an issue with no clear answers or solutions. Yet, the fact remains, anything you do within the confines of a vehicle can be distracting. It is the level that is in question.
In answer to the question, law makers have adopted draconian measures, just like your observation of the health reform. It seems, after all, the pendulum doesn't rest in the center, but tends to stick on one side or the other.
Alan, KØBG
www.k0bg.com
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RE: Safety First
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by W7WV on October 26, 2009
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I quit operating HF mobile as I found myself too distracted while driving.
I only wish that others on the road would have as much common sense and quit playing with all the gadgets that the makers of cars and trucks keep installing in them that take your attention away from the road.
I know, it's OK as it came with the car as factory equipment.
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RE: Safety First
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by K5END on October 26, 2009
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Drivers using cell phones for voice or text messaging cause a hazard. No one (intelligent) will argue with that. The studies are there, the crash analysis is there, and so on. One study reportedly says that distraction from cell phone use has the equivalent result of a 0.8% blood alcohol level.
My new pickup was rear ended last year by an 18 y/o driver when I was stopped at a stop light. She admitted she was on the cell phone and having been distracted was the reason for the crash. That is not stupid. That is beyond stupid. We'd have to create a new word to describe that level of hyper-stupidity.
It was not a severe crash, my vehicle was hardly scratched, and my rear bumper ensured that all that kinetic energy was transformed into bending the metal on the front end of her car, so I felt fortunate--this time.
She also told me this was her third accident in a month. And damage to other parts of her car body supported that claim. Drivers like this should be removed from the road.
New Law in Texas
Texas passed a law recently banning drivers from use of "wireless" devices (wireless defined as a paid subscription service) in school zones.
The exemptions are hands-free devices and licensed radio use (which includes Amateur radio.)
However, having an Amateur license does not allow the licensee to use a "wireless" device such as a cell phone in a school zone.
My opinion is the term "wireless" was chosen poorly, but in this context it is defined as a paid subscription device, such as a cell phone.
So, I guess that means you'd better not touch the volume dial if you have XM radio?
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RE: Safety First
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by WA8MEA on October 26, 2009
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Good article, Alan.
However, this should have been a two part safety course.
This part (part one) should have been entitled:
Mobile Safety First
Part Two: Home Safety First
The old ARRL Handbooks (and other ARRL publications) really emphasized shack safety.
Rubber sole shoes saved my life one day when my fingers slipped and touched a screw driver while trying to find an intermittent. I found out the plastic handle wasn't sufficient enough. But....I was a dumba** teenager back then.
Back to the mobile article: Did you know that many mobile whips emit a wind-whipped, high-pitch, whistle-like tone that will keep deer(s) from jumping in front of your vehicle?
73, Bill - WA8MEA
http://HamRadioFun.com
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RE: Safety First
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by G6NJR on October 26, 2009
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>>All two-way radios in all vehicles with the exception of emergency responding vehicles<<
Yet another example of trying to say they are better drivers than anyone else and that is the biggest load of codswallop in existance "Whats good for the Goose is good for the Gander" no exceptions wake up people force the issue
Pete G6NJR
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RE: Safety First
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by KC0RBX on October 26, 2009
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The best solution I ever heard to make drivers more alert and conscience while driving was made by a transportation safety "expert" on a television documentary. His solution? Require all vehicles to have 10 inch steel spike sticking out of the center of the steering wheel such that it is pointing right at the driver's chest. He said we would immediately see a dramatic drop in vehicle crashes! His reason is because we become too complacent when we try to implement every possible safety device to save lives when what we really need is to be constantly reminded that "If I crash, I get a spike in my chest! I better pay attention!"
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