The province has voted to pass new distracted driver legislation.
The legislation is the toughest of its kind in Canada and calls for drivers to be penalized for hand-held cellphone use while behind the wheel.
It also targets eating and drinking - if police feel it's distracting. Drinking your coffee with a hand on the wheel likely won't get you a ticket; but eating a sandwich with both hands while using your knee to steer could get you in trouble with the law.
"This is a great day for traffic safety in our province," says Luke Ouellette, the minister of transportation. "This legislation is a bold approach and goes beyond restricting cellphones and deals with the broader issue of distracted driving. Our message is clear: Keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road."
Under the legislation, fines would be $172, but with no demerit points. The premier says enforcement will be phased in, in hopes of giving Albertans time to get used to the new rules.
Recent studies reveal that Albertans are the worst offenders in the country when it comes to driving while distracted.
Research shows that taking your eyes of the road for five seconds while driving at 90 kilometres an hour is the equivalent of driving the length of a football field blind.
Police also say you are twice as likely to have a collision while distracted, and that 80 per cent of all collisions involve some sort of distracted driving.
Bill 16 passed its third, and final, reading on Wednesday night. The new legislation will not take effect until the spring.
