A Quebec coroner’s report into the death of a pedestrian last November contains a recommendation for the complete ban on the use of cell phones while driving.
In her report released on Wedensday coroner Renée Roussel said that while hands-free systems like Bluetooth make cellular communications safer they are still a distraction that can contribute to accidents.
In the incident in question, a 75-year-old was killed after being struck from behind by a driver in the town of Kamouraska, northeast of Quebec. In the report, Roussel suggested the driver was on his cell phone at the time, which the driver has denied.
Roussel compared the use of cellular phones to drinking while driving and said strong measures are needed. She recommended the implementation of a scrambling device in cars, saying current penalties are not enough of a deterrent.
HEC Professor Pierre-Majorique Leger said he agrees with Roussel’s conclusions.
“Driving a car is already very difficult,” he said. “There’s already a lot of dual tasks you have to do while driving to conduct safely. Adding anything else, including talking on the phone, is adding to the difficulty of driving.”
-With files from The Canadian Press
