No cellphones for drivers in Newfoundland

Drivers in Newfoundland and Labrador will be banned from driving and dialing starting April 1.

It's the first province to institute a cellphone ban for drivers. Drivers can still use their phones if they are parked in a safe area or are using a hands-free unit.

"The use of a cellphone is another form of impaired driving," said George Sweeney, Newfoundland and Labrador's minister of transportation.

Businesses say they've seen an increase in the number of people buying hands-free phones, which are legal to use while driving.

"It's been a steady stream of people," says Gary Vardy of DownEast Communications.

At least 14 countries have banned drivers from using cellphones including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Britain, Chile, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Africa and Spain.

In November 2001, New York state became the first one in the U.S. to ban the use of handheld cellphones by drivers.

Previous studies have blamed driver distraction for a higher risk of accidents eating, talking to a passenger or changing the radio.

Other studies say driving and talking on a cellphone can increase a risk of an accident by four times.

Both the Canada Safety Council and the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) have said cellphone bans are not the way to go. They say anything can be a distraction and say drivers should be told to pull off the road when they want to speak on the cellphone.