It鈥檚 got to be maddening.

We鈥檝e tasked the RCMP to target distracted driving. As first responders to crash scenes, it鈥檚 a public safety priority they fully support.

RCMP Cst. Steve Holmes was recently quoted: 鈥淎t crash scene after crash scene, we have seen the tragic results of something that is completely preventable. Drivers have to leave their phones alone.鈥�

Have you seen the episode concluding that driving while talking on a cell phone is as dangerous as driving drunk?

The public, though, don鈥檛 seem to get it. From Cst. Holmes鈥� perspective, cell phone use while driving is just as prevalent as it was before the law changed in 2010.

In my I explained why that 鈥渋diotic鈥� law, prohibiting only the hand held version of this distracting behaviour, has made things worse instead of better.

I quoted from a discussion paper published by British Columbia鈥檚 Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General noting: 鈥淓vidence also concludes that there is no difference between the cognitive diversion associated with hands-free and hand-held cell phone use.鈥�

We see drivers talking away on their cell phones all the time, as do the RCMP.

It must be maddening not to be able to do anything unless that distracting behaviour is accompanied by a reach for the cell phone.

They must be as irritated as those they are ticketing, the palpable unfairness of 鈥渆veryone else鈥� chatting away with impunity while those few get hefty fines.

When asked about the impact of increased fines, Cst. Holmes says that drivers have gotten more creative with hiding their phones while driving.

And that adds to the danger.

The higher the fines and the more resources we put into policing the idiotic law, the more careful drivers will be. Not careful about driving: careful about concealing their cell phones.

That, or spending money on hands free technology.

Neither of which will do anything to discourage chatting on the phone while driving.

Crash statistics will continue to get worse. ICBC rates will continue to go up.

Cell phone use while driving is the new 鈥渋mpaired driving.鈥� Targeting the hand held version is like saying it鈥檚 ok to drink vodka and drive, but not beer.

Will you take a personal stand and refuse to talk on the phone with anyone who is driving a motor vehicle, even if they say 鈥淚t鈥檚 OK, I鈥檓 hands free?鈥�

Will you sign a petition for a change in the law?