ST. JOHN’S, Nfld. — Truckers rolling across Newfoundland and Labrador might soon need to curb their cellphone use.

The province introduced a bill on the last day of April that would ban the use of hand-held phones while driving. Under the legislation, drivers would only be permitted to talk on their cells while parked.

The phones are a major distraction for drivers, insists Government Services
Minister Walter Noel. A ban on talking while driving would reduce injuries and vehicle insurance rates, Noel adds.

The government released a poll last year suggesting most Newfoundlanders see this issue as a serious challenge to highway safety.