British Columbia’s Grace Period Ends Today;
Fines Now Imposed for Using a Handheld Cell Phone Behind the Wheel
With less than two weeks until the Olympic Opening Ceremonies, British
Columbia today lifted the grace period for its law banning the use of
handheld mobile electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle
unless a hands-free device is used. Plantronics
(NYSE: PLT) encourages visitors to prepare for the new hands-free law by
educating themselves on the headset options available and following a
few simple safety tips.
“With more than 250,000 tourists expected to descend on the Vancouver
area for the Olympics, drivers on unfamiliar roadways need to be aware
of the law and how to prepare themselves,” explained Clay Hausmann, vice
president of Corporate Marketing at Plantronics. “Complying with the law
is easy because users have more options than ever before. Plantronics
offers a broad portfolio of headsets that fit a wide range of
preferences and budgets while providing the superior audio quality,
comfort and style that consumers expect from Plantronics.”
Effective today, February 1, B.C. will impose a $167 fine for talking on
a handheld cell phone while driving. Hands-free devices, such as
headsets, minimize physical and visual distractions associated with
talking on the phone and driving by enabling motorists to keep both
hands on the wheel and both eyes on the road. Drivers in B.C. should
consider the following safety tips while using a headset and driving:
-
Try it out: Test your headset with your phone before you drive.
Familiarize yourself with the headset’s controls and adjust the fit
and volume. Make sure your headset and phone are connected and store
your phone so it is out of your way but still accessible.
-
Get organized: Make sure frequently called numbers are
programmed into your phone. Most phones have voice-dialing; be sure to
use this feature so you can always keep both eyes on the road.
-
Set it up: Add headset preparation to your pre-driving
checklist. Buckle your seatbelt, check your rearview mirror, and put
on your headset and make sure it’s connected to your phone before you
drive.
-
Focus on the road: Always remember that driving safely is your
first priority. You should focus on the road and only place and
receive calls when it’s absolutely necessary.
Best-in-Class Bluetooth Headsets
Among the Bluetooth(R) headsets available to drivers in B.C. are the
Plantronics Voyager(R) PRO and the Plantronics Discovery(R) 975 headsets.
The Plantronics Voyager PRO provides the industry’s most advanced
noise-canceling and wind noise reduction technology. Winner of the
coveted Editors’ Choice awards from CNET and PC Magazine, the
Plantronics Voyager PRO features AudioIQ2, next generation digital
signal processing (DSP) technology, to deliver superior noise and wind
cancellation as well as rich, natural inbound audio so you can hear and
be heard clearly. Ideal for drivers, Plantronics Voyager PRO is
extremely comfortable and the battery provides up to six hours of talk
time before having to recharge.
The Plantronics Discovery 975 headset, also a CNET Editor’s Choice award
winner, is the perfect blend of innovative design and advanced audio
technology. It provides ingeniously simple one-touch controls to keep
drivers focused on the road, not the headset. The sleek, elegant design
houses sophisticated technology, including AudioIQ2 DSP technology with
dual-microphones to cancel background noise and three layers of
WindSmart(R) technology to minimize wind noise. It comes with an
innovative rechargeable carrying case that can triple talk time from 5
hours to up to 15 hours.
Best Buy now features a full line of Plantronics Bluetooth wireless
headsets including the award-winning Voyager PRO and Discovery 975.
Plantronics headsets can also be found at Wal-Mart, Bell Canada,
FutureShop, Telus, and Staples locations in British Columbia and
throughout Canada. To learn more about the headsets and see a complete
listing of Plantronics’ hands-free products, please visit: www.plantronics.com.
Plantronics recognizes that there are occasions when driving
circumstances make talking on a mobile phone - handheld or hands-free -
unsafe. In these instances, motorists should pull over or hang up to
protect the safety of themselves, their passengers and others on the
road.
About Plantronics
Plantronics is a world leader in personal audio communications for
professionals and consumers. From unified communication solutions to
Bluetooth headsets, Plantronics delivers unparalleled audio experiences
and quality that reflect our nearly 50 years of innovation and customer
commitment. Plantronics is used by every company in the Fortune 100 and
is the headset of choice for air traffic control, 911 dispatch and the
New York Stock Exchange. For more information, please visit www.plantronics.com
or call (800) 544-4660.
AudioIQ2, Plantronics, Plantronics Discovery, Plantronics Voyager and
WindSmart are trademarks or registered trademarks of Plantronics, Inc.
The Bluetooth(R) word mark and logos are registered trademarks of
Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Plantronics is under
license. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
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