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By Bev Boyle 

As reported on this site on October 21st, the government is enacting a new law that, after January 1st 2010, use of handheld communications devices will be illegal while driving. You will only be able to use hands-free cellphones and devices that require one touch to activate.

I think this is a very good idea.

I was run off the side of Canim-Hendrix Road the other day by a young girl talking and laughing on her cell phone, and obviously not paying attention to her driving. I will never forget the look of horror on her face when she realized that she had left her side of the road while going around a corner. Luckily, I was able to keep control of my vehicle and come back onto the road past her. 

This was one second too close to a bad accident. Apparently age and experience is helpful in a situation like this. Imagine if it had of been another inexperienced driver she had run off. 

However, I do feel cellphones are a necessary evil on the road. I have owned one ever since they first came out (remember those big boxes they came in?!) and faithfully take mine with me on every trip, in case of an accident or car problems. They also come in handy if you are going shopping and your spouse phones to let you know of some item that they just can’t do without and that you have to pick up now. 

I do not think it is necessary to chit chat or read text messages while you are driving. Thankfully, there is a solution to this problem. Nearly all new cellphones sold these days are Blue Tooth compatible. Wikipedia describes Blue Tooth as “an open wireless protocol for exchanging data over short distances (using short radio waves) from fixed and mobile devices”. This means ‘no hands, Ma!’ 

A lot of the problem is, of course, the lack of common sense. I just hope that these cellphone talkie addicts clean up their act right away. It’s obvious that the new law is for a valid reason, even if it doesn’t start until January. 

Accidents kill people. A lot of people. Inattention causes accidents.