Proposed Canadian Law: Don't Game While Driving

Proposed Canadian Law: Don't Game While Driving

October 29, 2008

It might seem obvious that rocking out with Guitar Hero: On Tour on your Nintendo DS while cruising down the freeway is not a good idea.

But a cabinet member in Canada wants to make it official. As reported by the St. Catherine's Standard, Transportation Minister Jim Bradley (smiling at left) has introduced a bill to outlaw the use of handheld electronic devices while driving. Among the measure's prohibitions are mobile phones, DVD players and portable video game systems.

Violators would be subject to a $500 fine. Of his proposal, Bradley said:

You should have both hands on the wheel...

Passengers would not be restricted from using portable electronics.

Comments

Re: Proposed Canadian Law: Don't Game While Driving

yeah, distracted driving laws are all the rage up here right now. While they make sense, the laws very seldom ever go anywhere, because they apply to such an incredibly small percentage of drivers.

Laws already exist in many areas of canada that restrict a few of those things anyway, this guy just wants to be the one to suggest the first "federal" control. yay him.

Re: Proposed Canadian Law: Don't Game While Driving

Actually, this law is a proposal for Ontario only, it's not federal. 

Re: Proposed Canadian Law: Don't Game While Driving

Can't fault him for thinking it's federal though. ;)

-- If your wiimote goes snicker-snack, check your wrist-strap...

Re: Proposed Canadian Law: Don't Game While Driving

Yeah, the GP article makes it sound federal.  If you don't follow the link to the source article, you would never know.  I only know that it's just for Ontario because I live here.

Re: Proposed Canadian Law: Don't Game While Driving

Won't the lack of restrictions on "portable electronic devices" just encourage morons to check their e-mail on their laptop during rush hour traffic?

 

Re: Proposed Canadian Law: Don't Game While Driving

Hell yeah. Reminds me of road trips... driving down I 45, busting out the dekstop computer, and playing some counterstrike! They can take away my car, but they can never take... my freedom! pew pew pew!

Re: Proposed Canadian Law: Don't Game While Driving

It would qualify as wreckless driving either way wouldn't it?

Re: Proposed Canadian Law: Don't Game While Driving

"Wreck-ful" is more likely, to my way of thinking...

Re: Proposed Canadian Law: Don't Game While Driving

I think I can say this for everyone; 'Well Duh!'

 

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IMA FIRIN MAH LASER!!!

Re: Proposed Canadian Law: Don't Game While Driving

How about a law that states "Any electronical device that

 

1)  Takes away the hands of the driver from the wheel.

and

2)  Impeedes the abilituy for the driver to safely operate the car.

Is illegal to use while driving unless the operator pulls off to the side or is in standing idle. 

 

I'm sick and tired of loopholes helping douchebags get away with being douchebags.  Granted its virtually hard to prove in court but still.  If every person who drove with their cell phone could get the cancer then the world would be a better place because instead of driving and putting me at potential risk for crashing because they are oblivious bumholes they'd be too sick from the chemo threapy to drive at all let alone talk on their god damned bloody cell phone/play their DS, and so on and so forth..

Re: Proposed Canadian Law: Don't Game While Driving

Better idea, even better. Replace "electronical device" with "any action"

Dangerous driving is dangerous driving whether it's cell phone, radio, eating, shaving, putting on makeup, changing diapers... (I have seen all of this)

 

Re: Proposed Canadian Law: Don't Game While Driving

I agree. 

Re: Proposed Canadian Law: Don't Game While Driving

 But it violates freedom! WE HAVE A RIGHT TO DRIVE LIKE IDIOTS! We have a right to reach level 10 while cruisin' I-5!

 

Seriously, it's funny and it's sad and it's scary at the same time. You have to wonder why people actually DO crazy stuff while driving? I think we're all guilty of the "one hand on the wheel, one hand on the burger/drink" variety, but CHANGING DIAPERS?!! GUITAR HERO? 

The law just means people are going to get in trouble for this. The fact we have to make the law means PEOPLE ACTUALLY DO THIS STUFF!!! 

I think I'll walk...

Re: Proposed Canadian Law: Don't Game While Driving

So, having one hand on my wheel and the other on the windowsill in the summer would be illegal?  No thanks.  That's what I like about this law: it specifically denounces activities which are truly distracting.  It bugs me that his rationale is incorrect, but that doesn't matter as much as what's actually on the books.

---
The Mammon Industry

Re: Proposed Canadian Law: Don't Game While Driving

You forgot sexual activity. (Not kidding, driver and passenger full speed ahead.) Needless to say I got as farr as I could and called the highway patrol.

Hunting the shadows of the troubled dreams.

Re: Proposed Canadian Law: Don't Game While Driving

I think that when they crash into another car, person, or inanimate object, it's a sort of punishment itself... Plus, this might take a turn like those anti-smoking adds that popped up in the US in the late 90s (I think). Instead of their intended effect, kids responded to it as "it's a normal thing to smoke," just like it's "normal to get drunk off your ass at college."

It's a good law, though. It's not exclusive to gaming...

Re: Proposed Canadian Law: Don't Game While Driving

It wouldn't be good for the person or the other car they hit.

--- Official Protector of Videoland!

Re: Proposed Canadian Law: Don't Game While Driving

When automakers stop designing cars with built-in DVD players, GPS systems, satellite radios and god knows what else, I'll stop answering my phone when it rings while I'm driving.

 

Re: Proposed Canadian Law: Don't Game While Driving

Ahhhh... Of course!  It's the automakers and aftermarket parts resellers fault!  Damn them for selling us stuff we can use while driving even though it isn't safe!

Statements like this are why I'm glad no law can ever override Darwinism.

"Volume helps to get a point across but sharp teeth are better."

Re: Proposed Canadian Law: Don't Game While Driving

My grandma had a car with a built in DVD player, but it was only for the back seat.  GPS systems are actually useful to use while driving.  Satellite radio is fine because you still have your eye on the road while listening to music.  They are not to blame.

--- Official Protector of Videoland!

Re: Proposed Canadian Law: Don't Game While Driving

Next year, the 'don't drive with your feet' law is coming into force... ;)

Re: Proposed Canadian Law: Don't Game While Driving

I find it sad they have to make LAWS to make sure people don't do this...

Re: Proposed Canadian Law: Don't Game While Driving

I have a solution though: Suspend the legal system, and all the smart people stay indoors while the stupid people wipe themselves out, like they would actually do if smart people would just let them.

Re: Proposed Canadian Law: Don't Game While Driving

Dvd players? What if someone were to put in a concert DVD and just listen to that while they drive? I don't see the harm in that.

Perhaps they can add a loophole that would cover that sort of thing.

Anyway that remind me of a amgazine article were they interviewed one of the lead designers of Burnout for the PSP. The interviewer mentioned the possibility that people could play the game while driving.

He seemed a little freaked out and said something along the lines of 'Oh God, I hope nobody tries that'. Funny.

----------------------------------------------------

"What for you bury me in the cold cold ground?" - Tasmanian devil

Re: Proposed Canadian Law: Don't Game While Driving

I believe it is law in some states that DVD player screen cannot be in eyeshot of the driver when in stalled. Basically only passengers should be able to see the screen.

E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
MySpace Page: http://www.myspace.com/okceca
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1325674091

Re: Proposed Canadian Law: Don't Game While Driving

 It's bad enough when you see people doing this stuff while you're heading down the interstate, but have you ever been in the car WITH THEM?! Try changing lanes in you state capitol downtown, while you're driver's talking on a cell phone!

You do not want to be there. I still wake up in a cold sweat at nights.

Re: Proposed Canadian Law: Don't Game While Driving

You mean the Trans-Canada Highway -- we don't have "interstates" up here. ;D

(But while I'm on the subject, who's the idiot that decided I-96 and I-69 should merge halfway and then split off in opposite directions?  That was a very confusing trip to Chicago, let me tell you.)

---
The Mammon Industry

Re: Proposed Canadian Law: Don't Game While Driving

Try a truck driver wanting to merge on a narrow bridge while yammering on his phone. Damn near squashed me and another car into the railing before he heard our horns! Talk about a panic moment!

 

 Hunting the shadows of the troubled dreams.

Re: Proposed Canadian Law: Don't Game While Driving

yet another example of the axiom:  There is little less common than common sense. 

If those people would only have a decency of killing themselves off without endangering others... oh well if they dont want to play nice than make a few laws. 

Re: Proposed Canadian Law: Don't Game While Driving

Yeah let's get those horrible video games out of drivers hands that caused...  Wait... How many accidents have these things caused?

Well whatever the percentage may be they're still more dangerous than women driving on the road while doing their makeup in the vanity mirror.

/sarcasm

"Volume helps to get a point across but sharp teeth are better."

Re: Proposed Canadian Law: Don't Game While Driving

Two hands on the wheel isn't as important as the distraction. I think the electronic limitation is too much, make it broader.

And heck, it's probably already on the books if you just enforce it. "Reckless driving".

 

Re: Proposed Canadian Law: Don't Game While Driving

The first thing that came to mind while reading this was "so I can't shift my gears in the car because it causes me to only have one hand on the wheel?"  I really don't mind the part about cell phones, those people still piss me off.  The distraction is the main thing that needs to be taken care of.

Re: Proposed Canadian Law: Don't Game While Driving

I really says you must have two hands on the steering wheel? Really?

Listen if a man with no arms can drive a steering wheel with his feet and not need a handicapped license than I think the general public can handle steering with one hand.

----------------------------------------------------

 "What for you bury me in the cold cold ground?" - Tasmanian devil

GamePolitics ShoutBox

Posted 11/07/09 at 10:58am
JDKJ: Which could be explained by both (a) and (b).
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:56am
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: You forgot C) the fact that, for some reason, every time he did something that would suggest he shouldn't be in the military, let alone an officer, higher ups ignored it or let it slide.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:51am
JDKJ: Part of the problem is, I believe, that (a) the Army had a lot of time and money already invested in him and which they were unwilling to simply write-off and (b) an increasing need for the type of skills and services he provided.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:48am
JDKJ: And that even if he was begging not to get cut loose, he was apparently a real good candidate for being cut loose, anyway.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:11am
JDKJ: @chada: And while Kennedy once noted that there's usually more than enough blame for everyone to get a slice, the possibility that the Army was unwilling to cut loose someone who was asking to get cut loose could be a factor.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:07am
ZippyDSMlee: *noms on his feet*..nomnomnomnom*droooll* ...wuuutttttt uuu looking at?
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:05am
JDKJ: I'm no psychologist, but I'm told that crazy people have a tendency to do crazy things.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:03am
chadachada321: Whoops, was out of the convo for awhile. I do wonder what type of ammo he used etc, but the real issue is WHY he did it, not HOW
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:56am
JDKJ: But if it turns out that they actually did, they'll have Hell to pay.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:45am
JDKJ: And I'd tend to rule out the possibilty of FN Herstal supplying restricted ammunition to someone merely because they're ordering it from a military base.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:37am
JDKJ: I know you don't leave your gated community and get around much in dark alleys, so you may be surprised to learn that there's this thing called "the black market" where, if you've got enough money, ain't too much of anything which can't be bought.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:36am
Austin_Lewis: Or, maybe he or someone else at the base ordered the SS190 from FN Herstal.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:32am
Austin_Lewis: the hands of private owners. They run about 300 dollars minimum for a box of 50, and boxes of AP 5.7 are extremely scarce, mainly residing in the hands of Class III stores or individuals who for one reason or another got a demo box of it.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:30am
Austin_Lewis: There are other firearms that fire the 5.7. However, I too would like to know where he got the ammo and what kind was used. Maybe Hasan, planning not to live through this, went out and bought one the boxes of SS190 that are floating around in
Posted 11/07/09 at 08:44am
JDKJ: And it isn't yet clear what type of ammunition Hasan used. It's strange that he purchased a gun but didn't purchase ammunition for it at the same place and time. Especially because the calibre required is peculiar to the actual gun.
Posted 11/07/09 at 08:40am
JDKJ: We can sit here all day and debate the relative merits. However, I think the events of recent days suggest that an FN Five-Seven ain't exactly the same as that Daisy BB gun you got for Christmas when you were a kid.
Posted 11/07/09 at 08:38am
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: tumbling can be quite dangerous. However, the rounds that commonly tumbled were variants of the SS90. Civilian ammo tends to tumble far less commonly.
Posted 11/07/09 at 08:33am
JDKJ: I understand that while they don't have much expansion effect, they tend to "yaw" on impact. Yaw can be almost just as damaging as mushrooming.
Posted 11/07/09 at 08:30am
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: Except when one considers the lack of expansion for the 5.7, it basically ends up leaving a far smaller hole.
Posted 11/07/09 at 08:29am
JDKJ: But if the latter's travelling at close to twice the speed of the former, there's a compensatory effect on the weight difference.
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