Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Driver distraction legislation came into effect January 1st of this year, and after a request by committee in late spring, it was reported there were only a handful of convictions and an undisclosed number of warnings. Not that we’re out to punish, but this number appeared to be small in nature and may reflect what many may see as an everyday occurrence on the streets of the capital city and throughout the cell-covered Northwest Territories.
The point is, why go through all the work of getting such legislation and not have the ability, the capacity or maybe the desire to enforce it?
Now, I do commend the hardworking law enforcement members out there who support this legislation, and my fellow colleagues, Ms. Bisaro, Mr. Hawkins, who were early champions and fought hard to get this Lose the Phone Campaign to the forefront. But now, only 10 months into the new law, we may have the same, if not larger, epidemic of distracted drivers out there.
To put this in perspective, not that many months ago I had the pleasure of working alongside MLA Hawkins and the hardworking teacher, Ms. Michelle Thoms, who guides our local St. Patrick High School SADD program, which is Students Against Drinking and Driving. In the spirit to promote safe driving, we were assembled to do a morning wave at passing motorists before one of our long weekends. Oddly enough, while we were holding up banners, waving our little hearts out and shouting out for safety, we lost count of how many motorists waved back while holding their phone between their ear and their shoulder.
Many of the students commented in dismay of the complete lack of respect by these motorists. One of them actually said, “These motorists might as well have been holding up a can of beer, and don’t you get this taken away if you’re caught with it?”
As a legislator and a community supporter and a father, I was without words in reply, because what can one say. These kids might be right.
What is the fundamental difference between being distracted under the influence of open alcohol or the lack of concentration while holding or texting on your phone? Oddly enough, this theory was tested by a recent social network, a question posted by our local station, indicating that in Montreal, if you’re caught using your phone while driving, you actually lose your phone and get a ticket. This prompted a variety of replies and responses, from go ahead and try, this is a tad excessive, or my favourite, you’ll never catch me.
Society is indeed fixated with their cell phones, the need to always stay in touch and having the need for constant and immediate communication at all times. In itself, this is not the issue and it is the price we pay for technology of sorts.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement today.
---Unanimous consent granted
As I said, in itself, this is not the issue and it is the price we pay for technology of sort, but then again, when does this or should this fixation trump the safety of our society. Unpopular as this may sound, maybe the concept of lose the phone is just that if you are distracted while using a phone and you get caught, you lose it; something for us to think about, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. The Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Blake.
