Cellphones just the start in proposed driving ban

Alberta Transportation Minister Luke Ouellette hopes to bring in legislation this spring to ban a long list of distractions that can prevent drivers from driving safely — not just cellphones.

"Most provinces and places have been taking kind of the easy way out," said Ouellette. "Just passing a straight cellphone ban, and I think there's a lot more to distract the driving than that."

Transportation officials have come up with a list of potential distractions that need to be covered in the proposed bill, Ouellette said.

"You see people with pets on their laps, you see people shaving, you see ladies putting on makeup … all them different types of distractions. We want to get that all within one piece of legislation." 

Ouellette said anything that takes a driver's hands off the wheel, whether it's texting or looking up directions on a global positioning system, needs to be banned to ensure safer highways.

The Alberta Motor Association has been calling for a cellphone ban for drivers for more than a decade. If the province can come up with more comprehensive legislation, it will make the wait worthwhile, said Don Szarko, who speaks for the association.

"I'm presuming that the definition of Alberta's legislation is taking a broader view," he said. "And if that's the case, we would definitely be a leader."

In September, Strathcona County became the first jurisdiction in the province to ban cellphones while driving. The offence carries a $100 fine, but does not apply to provincial highways.

Seven provinces have banned cellphones while driving, but they allow hands-free devices.