Alberta doctors to province: ban cellphone use while driving
29.08.2008 20:04
Health
- Source: cbc.ca
Alberta doctors say they support a private member's bill that calls for a ban on the use of cellphones while driving. The bill, introduced in April by a Progressive Conservative backbencher, is being reviewed by a committee of the Alberta legislature. The Alberta Medical Association plans to make a submission to the committee. "There is sound scientific evidence that using a cellphone while driving can be extremely dangerous," association president Dr. Darryl LaBuick said in a news release on Friday. "It greatly increases your chance of a serious road crash resulting in a hospital stay. The consequences of serious collisions can last a lifetime. As physicians, we see truly tragic evidence of this every day in our practices." He said studies show that the risk of a collision increases four to six times while using a cellphone, reaction times slow by 18 per cent and the likelihood of failing to stop at a stop sign increases 10 times. New research is beginning to measure the dangers of text messaging behind the wheel, he said. The private member's bill, Traffic Safety (Hand-Held Communication Devices) Amendment Act, 2008, has passed second reading. It calls for a ban on hand-held devices only but LaBuick said the association is calling for a ban on both hand-held and hands-free devices because it believes both are dangerous. "This is an important first step toward what we hope will be a full ban in the future," he said. Quebec, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland already have legislation that restricts hand-held cellphone use while driving. With files from the Canadian PressStory Tools: E-MAIL | PRINT | Text Size: SMLXL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACKHealth HeadlinesDeath linked to cheese recall in Quebec One person has died and 87 cases of salmonella food poisoning have been linked to three brands of contaminated cheese in Quebec, provincial health authorities said Friday in announcing a recall.Benefits of flu shots for reducing deaths less than thought: studyThe flu shot does help protect against specific strains of influenza but its ability to help prevent deaths among the elderly may have been exaggerated, a new study suggests. Walkerton mayor calls for public inquiry into listeriosis outbreakThe mayor of Walkerton, the southern Ontario town where a deadly E. coli disaster struck eight years ago, called on Friday for a public inquiry into the listeriosis outbreak.Researchers track Alzheimer's-linked protein in live brainsScientists for the first time have peered into people's brains to directly measure the ebb and flow of a substance notorious for its role in Alzheimer's disease. Findings may have implications for how the brain-injured are tracked in intensive-care units.Alberta doctors to province: ban cellphone use while drivingAlberta doctors say they support a private member's bill that calls for a ban on the use of cellphones while driving. Health FeaturesVIDEOListeriosisFollowing the path of the listeriosis outbreak (8:37)YOUR INTERVIEWListeriosisDr. Allison McGeer takes questions on the outbreakVIDEOListeriosis Dr. Dara Maker answers questions about outbreak (4:35)IN DEPTHMedical isotopesThe backbone of nuclear medicineIN DEPTHWest Nile NUTRITIONSchool lunchesHealthy back-to-school lunch tipsPeople who read this also read …
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