Ottawa Car Accident Lawyer , Ottawa Law Firm, Lawyer David Hollingsworth.. I came across this article on CBC.ca website and thought I would share it with you.  I would love to hear your thoughts….Smartphone applications that allow drivers to send and receive text messages while keeping their hands on the wheel may be legal, but police are concerned they will lead to more distracted drivers. At least five smartphone apps now on the market offer voice technology that converts text messages to audio messages, and then allow the user to speak out their responses, which are converted to text. The applications are designed to allow drivers to keep using handheld devices while on the road, which is illegal in every province except New Brunswick and Alberta, where laws passed last year are expected to take effect later in 2011. The Yukon Territory also passed legislation that will come into effect later this year. Ottawa resident Georges Khoury said he installed a voice application on his phone a month ago, after a near accident. “Police say that if you need to use the phone or text, park on the side,” said Khoury. “But most of the time I’m in a hurry. I’m not going to be able to do that … and I was able to find this app.” The new applications may be legal, but Ottawa police Sgt. Al Ferris said police are worried they’ll become the latest driving distraction. “It’ll catch on like wildfire,” said Ferris. “Anything new and exciting. If they can do it and try to get away with it, they’re going to try it. And unfortunately it is going to be a risk to us.” Ferris said anything that takes your mind off the task of driving is going to be a risk.

Distraction poses risk, researchers say

Some research suggests that the danger of using mobile phones is not just about holding a device in hand. “It’s about attention/distraction, not about hands,” Yoko Ishigami, a Dalhousie University psychologist, told CBC in a 2010 interview. “It’s kind of misleading that people ban only hand-held phones. It gives the wrong impression that it’s okay to talk on the phone, which is not good at all.” A 2010 study by the U.S. Highway Loss Data Institute found that 20 jurisdictions in the United States that banned driving and texting and seven that banned driving and talking on hand-held devices did not experience a drop in accident claims, relative to states without a ban. The institute said one possible explanation was that people were switching to hands-free devices.

Ferris said police will be monitoring the use of hands-free texting applications, and if they discover a problem they will ask the province to step in and ban all texting.

What do you think?

Source: CBC.ca website -With files from the CBC’s Ashley Burke

About Ottawa Ontario Personal Injury Lawyer David Hollingsworth-

David Hollingsworth has been an Ottawa Ontario personal injury law firm representing motor vehicle accident victims, including those involved in car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, bus accidents, snowmobile accidents since 1999. David practices with an established Ottawa law firm of more than 50 years of experience in representing accident victims, and helping accident victims settle their insurance claims with maximum settlements and compensation.  Ottawa Ontario Personal Injury Lawyer   David Hollingsworth  knows how to make a difference in accident victims lives (whether they are at fault or not)  at a particularly difficult and stressful time.  David works hard at always obtaining maximum compensation for his personal injury clients and their families and relieving  them of  stress.  David offers free consultations, takes cases on contingency  and travels to  homes or hospital. Visit www.ottawainjury.ca for more information.

mobile   (613) 978-9549      (613) 237-4922 ext.203

Ottawa Accident Lawyer, Ottawa Car Accident Lawyers