Canada’s Cellphone Laws: a Template for better Driver’s Ed

Name: Kyle Gibbons

2020 Drivers Education Essay Contest

Canada’s Cellphone Laws: a Template for better Driver’s Ed

Back in 2011, in the small town of Peterborough, Ontario, Canada; I failed my G1 learners permit because the country’s new driving-with-cellphone laws had not appeared in any of my research materials. I was frustrated, felt ripped off, and had to wait thirty days before reapplying. During that time I studied vigorously and eventually understood why the laws were so important (although I was still annoyed). These policies seem commonplace now, but back then in my rural hometown they were not properly adopted. Texting-while-driving laws had only just been implemented and most people know nothing about them. In a small town, driving was seldom regulated and the new rules regarding cellphone use were blatantly ignored. The situation taught me that new laws are only entrenched through continual education and a communal culture that scrutinizes violations.

For example, the “don’t drink and drive” message was constantly disseminated through advertising and my generation was acutely aware of the dangers. Nobody I knew drove drunk or got in a vehicle with a drunk driver; only older folks got into accidents when they returning home from the bars. Drinking and driving simply was not part of our high school experience because we were so inundated with current information.

The same thing needed to be done for cellphone laws. The overall “no texting and driving” message was not as prolific as its alcoholic predecessor and many (like me) just learned what they had to pass. That scrutinizing culture does not exist for the cellphone laws and many older millennials and boomers tend to drive erratically when using cellphones. Even nine years later Peterborough motorists constantly drive while texting, talking or video chatting.

Driving is a challenge with numerous intricacies that take years to fully master. With laws, car models, and demographics constantly changing it is more important than ever that driver’s education stays current and the information is thoroughly disseminated to the upcoming age group. Driver’s education courses and instructors can help teach new drivers but do not replace real world, on the road experience. Everyone develops their own patterns and habits that can be dangerous to others on the road (i.e. talking on cellphones). Periodic rigorous reassessments should be conducted throughout life so that older drivers are always up-to-date with laws and bad habits can be addressed. In Canada drivers are only reviewed when they become senior citizens or after an accident. With our recent legalization of marijuana, current, up-to-date educational materials are essential to maintaining safety on the roads. Education is the best way to improve people’s abilities and reduce the number of accidental deaths. The way everyone learned about alcohol and cellphones provides a baseline template for future vehicular policies to improve upon.