Cell Phone Usage
 Transport
Canada recommends against using cell phones while driving.
It is distracting and increases the risk of collision. Your
primary concern is the safe operation of the vehicle. While
no Canadian jurisdiction prohibits the use of cellular phones
while driving, some are considering legislation that would
prohibit the use of hand-held phones while driving. In any
case, use common sense.
To avoid collisions arising from the use of cell phones:
- Turn the phone off before you start driving. Let callers
leave a message.
- If there are passengers in the vehicle, let one of them
take or make the call. If you're expecting an important
call, let someone else drive.
- If you have to make or receive a call, look for a safe
opportunity to pull over and park.
If for some reason you have no alternative but to use a
cellular phone while driving, here are some tips:
- Use only a speakerphone or a hands-free phone. Make sure
you put on the hands-free accessories before you start
driving. But be aware: hands-free is not risk-free.
- If you must use a hand-held phone, place it where it
will be readily accessible. Trying to retrieve a phone
from a briefcase, handbag or pocket can be especially dangerous.
- Don't answer the phone until you have checked that it
is safe to do so.
- Use speed dial options. If you know you will need to
call an unprogrammed number, dial the number before starting
off and send the call at your convenience.
- Driving and talking on a phone at the same time is difficult.
Don't make it worse by trying to read or take notes. Do
pull over and stop.
- Keep calls short and factual. Emotional or thought-provoking
conversations are distracting. Recent research suggests
that decisions made while driving and talking on a cell
phone are not always good decisions.
- It's good etiquette to ask a caller to hold until you
can park, or to say you'll return the call as soon as it's
safe to do so.
- Stay in the right-hand lane, where driving may be less
demanding.
- When reporting an emergency situation from a cell phone,
pull over and ensure you are not in the flow of traffic.
If you must keep driving, remember your primary concern
is to avoid causing another emergency.
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