Yesterday, provincial Progressive Conservative MPP John O’Toole introduced private members’ legislation that would ban the use of acar or cellphone, pager, personal data assistant, portable computer and fax machine in a community safety zone, within 100 metres of a school crossing and within 200 metres of the scene of a vehicle collision.

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Standing at the busy corner of Stouffer and Main streets during today’s lunch hour, clad in a fluorescent orange jacket with a reflective green ‘X’ on the back and stop sign in hand, Stouffville’s Sharon Norton said she has witnessed many distracted drivers on cellphones whipping around corners. Ms Norton, who has served as a crossing guard for nearly two decades, doesn’t disagree with the ideas contained in the proposed legislation, but questions the practicality of the plan.

“How are you going to enforce it?” Ms Norton said between guiding groups of children safely across Main in front of Summitview Public School.

“I’m not saying cellphones are a bad thing, but there is a time and place, I think.”

If passed, the bill would also require the province to keep records of collisions in which a cellphone or similar device was used, according to a news release issued by Mr. O’Toole. Student drivers would be tested on their knowledge of the cellphone bans. Exceptions would be made for the emergency use of cellphones, the release said.

“Each of these locations demands the utmost attention from the driver,” Mr. O’Toole said in a statement. “Not all Ontarians agree with a total ban on the use of cellphones while driving.

“However, I am confident there is agreement that they should not be used when drivers are at an accident scene, a school crossing and portions of highways where there are heightened safety concerns.”

Comment from the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services was not immediately available.