It is a daily sight in city, town, and suburb, in both Canada and Ireland--a motorist chatting on a hand-held cell phone while driving. All of us have our own horror stories.

Recently on a city street in downtown Ottawa a driver was observed making a right-hand turn at a busy intersection, phone held to ear, head turned back to spot traffic approaching from behind, chattering away all the while, and oblivious of pedestrians on the crosswalk.

A drunk couldn't drive more carelessly.

Plunk the same driver into a similar situation in Dublin. As a result of recently enacted traffic law the penalty for such dangerous driving is a fine of €435 and three months in jail, on top of which the driver may face a six months' driving ban.

There is no such penalty prescribed in Canada, where the organization "Mothers Against Drunk Driving" has petitioned for stiffer penalties to be imposed in cases of drunk driving.

Recent road tragedies in which drivers were found to have been chatting on cell phones have led to calls for new laws to prohibit the use of hand-held phones while operating a motor vehicle.

Tests conducted recently at the British Transport Research Laboratory showed drivers talking on cell phones had slower reaction and stopping times than drivers under the influence of alcohol.

They also showed that using hands-free phones while driving was almost as dangerous as using hand-held phones.

Reaction times were 30% slower when talking on a cell phone and 50% slower than when driving normally.

The tests showed that while driving at 70 miles per hour the braking distance was 31m (102ft), which increased to 35m (115ft) with alcohol, 39m (128ft) with a hands-free phone, and 45m (148ft) with a hand-held phone.

There should be no sympathy for drivers anywhere who literally can "talk themselves into jail" while ignoring the ordinary rules of the road. They are a danger to themselves, their passengers, other vehicle drivers, and pedestrians.

Liquor companies participate in public awareness campaigns warning their customers "Don't Drink and Drive". Will the telephone and cell phone companies launch a similar campaign warning their customers "Don't Phone and Drive"?

Driving while using a cell phone is already banned in more than 30 countries.

Experience with the recently enacted law in Ireland should be closely monitored in Canada, home of Robert Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone.