There is not yet any legislation in Canada banning the use of hands-free devices while driving. (CBC)

It is not enough to ban drivers from using hand-held cellphones, says the Canadian Automobile Association, because research shows hands-free devices are just as dangerous.

P.E.I. enacted legislation banning the use of hand-held devices while driving in January, modelling its legislation on laws in most other provinces, but a CAA executive told CBC News on Tuesday that the ban doesn't go far enough.

"It does fall short," said Gary Howard, vice-president of marketing and communications for CAA (Maritimes).

"Our concern is that it's not at all addressing the real issue of distracted driving. You're not paying attention to what you're doing when you're engaged in a conversation. You're six times more likely to be involved in an accident, whether you're hands-free or not."

CAA has been lobbying provincial governments to expand their bans, but no province has prohibited the use of hands-free devices yet.

Tracking accidents

On P.E.I., the legislation has led to a run on the sale of hands-free devices.

Charlottetown police are aware of the research, said deputy chief Gary McGuigan, and will be watching to see if hands-free devices are causing accidents.

"Those statistics are recorded; determinations are made from those statistics on what our next step will be and what takes place," said McGuigan.

If the statistics show the hands-free devices are just as dangerous, expanding the law to include them would be up to the province. Howard said CAA tried to contact provincial officials about its concerns before the current law was created, but got no response.

P.E.I. Transportation Minister Ron MacKinley has said he feels he can drive safely with a hands-free device.

CAA will be meeting with New Brunswick officials next week with the hope that its cellphone driving ban, still to be written, will include hands-free devices. Howard said it's not too late for other provinces that already have bans in place. Nova Scotia is taking a second look, he said, and he hopes P.E.I. will do the same.

Even if laws are not changed, said Howard, public education should be part of the strategy towards safer driving. He is concerned the present law gives people a false sense of security, because they believe they are safe as long as they're not touching the phone.

Howard said there is research that suggests distracted driving is worse than driving drunk.