REGINA — Saskatchewan has added itself to the list of provinces hanging up on distracted driving, but they won’t be cutting the chord on CB radios.

The province aims to make roadways safer by introducing legislation to ban talking and texting on handheld cell phones while driving. The Minister responsible for Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) June Draude introduced the new law in the Legislative Assembly last week.

"Using a cell phone to talk or text is a dangerous distraction," Draude said. "Recent research found that a person who is texting while driving is 23 times more likely to be involved in a collision than a non-distracted driver."

The new law prohibits all drivers from using handheld cell phones to talk, text, e-mail or surf the Internet while driving.

Experienced drivers will be allowed to use hands-free devices while driving. New drivers, meaning drivers in Saskatchewan’s Graduated Driver’s Licensing program, can not use cell phones of any type while operating a motor vehicle.

If passed during the current fall legislative sitting, the new law will take effect Jan. 1, 2010. The penalty for an offence associated with this law will be $280, which includes a victims’ surcharge of $60, and four demerit points under the Safe Driver Recognition and Driver Improvement programs.

Electronic devices not impacted by the proposed legislation do include CB radios, MP3 players and iPods, satellite radio, and two-way radios. While two-way radios will be allowed, “push-to-talk” functions on handheld cell phones are prohibited.

Police, fire and medical services personnel will be exempt from the new law while performing their duties. Drivers are also exempt when making a 9-1-1 call to report an emergency or if they are parked on the side of the road.

If the legislation passes, Saskatchewan will join B.C., Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, PEI and Quebec, as provinces with active cell phone bans. Manitoba’s legislation is expected to begin next summer, while Alberta’s government strongly considers joining the fold.