Plan to curb drivers’ cellphone use

A ban on cellphone use while driving is one of the amendments being proposed for the Road Traffic Act.Minister of Transport and Works John Boyce made this revelation yesterday while addressing the Barbados Association of Professional Engineers during a meeting at Savannah Hotel in Hastings, Christ Church.“Regrettably, records show that inappropriate use of this instrument while driving has contributed to our traffic accidents,” he said. “To correct the situation we are proposing to ban the use of hand-held mobile phones by persons driving on the highway unless a hands-free device is in use,” Boyce noted, adding that exceptions would be made for firefighters, policemen, emergency medical technicians and members of the Barbados Defence Force. Boyce said that private drivers were displaying an increase in negative behaviours and attitudes and “blatant disrespect for law and order”. (NB)