RSS
In Case You're An Idiot: Canada Wants To Make It Illegal To Play Video Games While Driving
from the who-writes-this-stuff? dept
In the past, we've pointed out how silly it was for various politicians to go about banning very specific actions for drivers. There are a ton of distractions for drivers, and you're never going to successfully outlaw all of them. But it doesn't stop politicians from trying. Earlier this year, we asked for suggestions on what else politicians might try to ban while driving (beyond earlier bills that were put forth in various legislatures trying to ban using a laptop, using OnStar, faxing and (everyone's favorite) having sex while driving.
The latest is up in Canada, where a bill on driver distractions includes a ban on playing portable video game systems. While my first thought was whether or not this means it would still be legal to hook up a console gaming system and play it, that thought was quickly erased by the most basic question of all: who doesn't already recognize that you should not be playing a handheld video game while driving? I mean, if we're going to start banning totally theoretical dangerous driving activities, I'd like to throw juggling while driving onto the list. That's gotta be distracting. We must ban it. To save our children, of course.
Of course, to highlight how ridiculous this law is, it says it's okay for you to change stations on the radio while driving -- but you would be fined for skipping a song on your iPod. Why the distinction? Who knows. Reporters, sensing the ridiculousness of the situation, questioned a supporter of the new bill, asking him if it would be illegal to change songs on your iPod if the iPod were taped to the dash, like a radio. His response? "I would have to look at that one," while then noting "the proposed law is fairly general with details to come." Ah, so let's rush into passing a law, and then we'll work out the details of what the law actually means later?
The latest is up in Canada, where a bill on driver distractions includes a ban on playing portable video game systems. While my first thought was whether or not this means it would still be legal to hook up a console gaming system and play it, that thought was quickly erased by the most basic question of all: who doesn't already recognize that you should not be playing a handheld video game while driving? I mean, if we're going to start banning totally theoretical dangerous driving activities, I'd like to throw juggling while driving onto the list. That's gotta be distracting. We must ban it. To save our children, of course.
Of course, to highlight how ridiculous this law is, it says it's okay for you to change stations on the radio while driving -- but you would be fined for skipping a song on your iPod. Why the distinction? Who knows. Reporters, sensing the ridiculousness of the situation, questioned a supporter of the new bill, asking him if it would be illegal to change songs on your iPod if the iPod were taped to the dash, like a radio. His response? "I would have to look at that one," while then noting "the proposed law is fairly general with details to come." Ah, so let's rush into passing a law, and then we'll work out the details of what the law actually means later?
Reader Comments (rss)
(Flattened / Threaded)
To illustrate his point, he hopped into a driving simulator while making a cellphone call with one hand on the wheel, ended up going the wrong way and crashed into a wall.
This had me laughing out loud.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Not As Dumb As It Sounds
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Isn't there already a law for this?
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Isn't there already a law for this?
"Your honor, reckless driving would mean that he was driving with disregard to the consequences of his actions... I propose my client simply did not know the consequences of his actions, and therefore cannot be held to have been reckless, simply uninformed. Ignorance of the law is no excuse, but this is ignorance of the consequences of his actions, not of the law."
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
Last time I checked my friends to the north are still exerting their independence from the crown and the White House. :)
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
FYI - the proposed law isn't Federal, just Provincial
Cheers, eh?
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Ah the memories
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Ah the memories
Sorry about that blank comment right there also, accidentally hit enter while the cursor was still in the subject line.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
no brain surgery while driving
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
another Ontario law
Cars presumably are safe for those under 14. Assuming of course they are not forcing their parents to play video games.
Presumably 14 and under can still ride bicycles, skateboard and climb trees though. There is still time to work on laws about those.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Use your carrier pigeon instead.
Silly out of context, but not silly when understood.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Urine Id Yet
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Maybe if politicians would use real world data, people would take notice!
Want to know what #1 is (for the upteenth year in a row)?
Children.
That's right! drivers with screaming kids are often more distracted by cellphone users, makeup artists, readers, and yes, even game players...combined.
That's big. Now, if these politicians then turned around and banned kids from riding, maybe, just maybe, parents will then get involved in what these idiot politicians are doing to stop them.
Because telling a parent they can't drag their screaming rugrat with them will definitely piss them off, especially when they can't get a sitter at the last minute.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Do California laws apply across the Union?
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
MisInterpreted
While I agree that to safely pilot a motor vehicle ought to be the responsibility of the driver, drivers are clearly failing in this regard. Enough so that laws like this have to be introduced because people are idiots. I would prefer that the language be encompassing enough to just say, you must devote your full attention when driving, without having to single out electronic devices. But because law is what it is today there will always be someone who can argue the law was too vague and the charges should be dropped. So we have a law that is really specific, to the point of absurdity, and leaves giant gaps of stupidity for people to fall into.
Kevin
P.S. I would imagine portable gaming was included because the latest batch of iPod's are quite capable of similar functions.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Who indeed?
Setting aside the stupidity/wisdom of this law, I would like to answer this question.
I saw this morning (and it wasn't the first time) someone playing his PSP in the driver's seat in the rush hour traffic.
I've seen women apply makeup on a daily basis, people reading the paper (or a book), people eating.
What is going on with our society? How did we collectively get so stupid?
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Playing Chess while driving should be outlawed.
Let us outlaw driving while playing chess.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Re: As Dumb As It Sounds
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re:
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Re: MisInterpreted
Is it illegal to switch CDs? You know, reach over the back seat to get my larger-than-lap sized binder with 230 discs inside, flip through a couple dozen over-sized pages, pull one out, juggle the old CD out of the player and the new one in...? I imagine that's at least as distracting as hitting "Next" on a iPod...
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Who indeed?
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
What a Joke.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Darwinism
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
In case you're an idiot
You're writing a "legal issues" blog and can't be bothered to learn the difference between federal and provincial issues while still feeling compelled to comment on them?
Impressive.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Add Your Comment