Hands-Free Phone Ban Not Practical: Wall SGI Suggests Devices Unsafe, But Premier Claims Prohibiting Them Unenforceable Alex J MacPherson Saskatchewan — Premier Brad Wall has come out against banning the use of hands-free devices while driving, declaring the mandate would be difficult to enforce. Saskatchewan introduced legislation banning the use of handheld devices while behind the wheel more than two years ago, but research suggests hands-free devices are equally dangerous to use on the road. Wall admits to using a hands-free device, and argues that enforcing a law prohibiting the phones would be difficult. "Whatever we do has to be functional and enforceable and…I don't know how you would enforce this," Wall told reporters. Wall explained that police officers would have difficult determining whether a driver was using a hands-free device or merely singing. The premier could not be reached for further comment. According to SGI, "[d]istracted driving, which includes cellphone use, is the number one contributing factor in all collisions and the second contributing factor in fatal collisions (after impaired driving) in Saskatchewan." "A point we'd like to emphasize is that drivers keep their primary focus on the driving task," says Rebecca Rogoschewsky, manager of media relations at SGI. "Even when using hands-free devices, SGI recommends drivers pull to the side of the road." Between 1 January and 31 August 2011, 6,678 collisions involving a distracted driver were reported, and resulted in 1,471 injuries and 26 fatalities. In 2010 there were 8,429 collisions causing 2,337 injuries and 61 deaths. According to a March, 2010 National Safety Council white paper, "drivers using hands-free phones (and those using handheld phones) have a tendency to 'look at' but not 'see' objects. Estimates indicate that drivers using cell phones look but fail to see up to 50 percent of the information in their driving environment." The report continues, "[c]ell phone driving has become a serious public health threat. A few states have passed legislation making it illegal to use a handheld cell phone while driving. These laws give the false impression that using a hands-free phone is safe." Dr. Chris Oriet, a professor of psychology at the University of Regina, agrees. "Hands-free is actually a little worse," he says. "With handheld you know you're doing something that compromises your driving. [A hands-free device] doesn't kick in compensatory mechanisms." "It's not about where your hands are," he explains. "It's about where your attention is. You cannot divide your attention without cost, not across two tasks like this." Oriet says intentional blindness, a phenomena caused by the division of attention, can affect even experienced drivers. "If you're not expecting something, even if it's really large, if your attention is locked up elsewhere, you're not going to see it," he states. "All distraction is bad," he continues, "and we're all guilty of it, but this is about reasonable risk." Oriet notes that talking to a passenger is much less dangerous than talking on a phone regardless of whether it is a hands-free unit. A passenger can interpret a wide range of cues and assist the driver by being quiet at critical moments; a phone conversation offers no such luxury. Representatives of both the Saskatoon Police Service and the Regina Police Service were unwilling to speculate as to whether a law banning hands-free devices would be difficult to enforce. "We're all about enforcing existing laws," explains Elizabeth Popowich, manager, public information for the Regina Police Service. Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372. New Program Eases Home Ownership SK Credit Unions Pledge $10M For Down Payment Loans To Build Houses Alex J MacPherson Saskatchewan — Prospective homeowners struggling to scrape together a down payment may not have to worry much longer. About $10 million has been committed by eight Saskatchewan credit unions to the HeadStart Equity Builder program, a companion to the HeadStart on a Home program, which was introduced by the provincial government in 2011. The money will be used to provide buyers with down payment loans on houses and condominiums built under the HeadStart program, which is intended to create a minimum of 1,000 new homes in Saskatchewan over the next five years. "The cost of rent keeps skyrocketing, [making] it almost impossible for people to become homeowners," says Traci Wasylenko, a mobile mortgage specialist with Affinity Credit Union. "The whole point of the program is to move renters or people who can make mortgage payments but don't have [a] down payment into home ownership." The credit unions will furnish buyers with a five percent down payment loan repayable over five years at a floating Bank of Canada prime interest rate. In some cases, states Wasylenko, builders will offer down payment grants to reduce the amount of the loan. The entry-level homes are priced below the average MLS listing in their respective communities. According to the Department of Social Services, the homes will range between $180,000 and $300,000, depending on the municipality. Wasylenko says there are currently five approved projects spread across the province, one each in Saskatoon, Yorkton, North Battleford, Moose Jaw and Prince Albert. "There definitely are more planned," she adds. HeadStart on a Home is part of a suite of government programs targeting affordable housing issues in Saskatchewan. "Maintaining existing housing stock, increasing our inventory and improving access will help to address the housing needs of a growing province," says Social Services Minister June Draude. "The initiatives in this action plan, and those that will be identified in our housing strategy, will make a real difference for Saskatchewan people in the long-term as the province moves forward." About $28 million has been committed to projects since HeadStart for a Home was announced says Grant Kook, president and CEO of Westcap Managment, the third-party fund manager selected by the government to administer the project. Kook explains that Westcap Management works with municipalities to evaluate and eventually finance new construction projects. Typically, the municipality receives proposals from builders, which can then be directed to Westcap. If a proposal appears to meet the criteria of HeadStart on a Home after a rigorous due diligence process, Westcap will enter into an agreement with the builder for up to 90 percent of the construction cost. In a traditional construction financing agreement the builder is expected to put up between 25 and 35 percent of the cost and sell between 50 and 60 percent of the units before work begins. HeadStart on a Home has no pre-sale requirement, making the process faster and more streamlined. "Each project is different but this could expedite the process by six to 12 months. If the need for housing is there we can't have this process drag on," says Kook. "Everything is geared to address the [housing] situation today in a quick manner. We're trying to reduce as many barriers as we can." Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.