SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Although 75 per cent of NWT residents have cellphone service, a motion to ban their use in cars was defeated last Wednesday because almost all regional MLAs said it is not an issue for their constituents.

"Let's get cellphone services in all 33 communities, then let us make that decision," said David Krutko, MLA for the Mackenzie Delta, adding "I think when we get to that point, then we can bring in legislation where we're on the same playing field."

Currently, only seven of the territories 33 communities have cellphone coverage. Norman Yakeleya, MLA for the Sahtu, echoed Krutko, saying the only area in his region to have cellphone coverage is Norman Wells.

"At this time no one in my communities are pressing me to vote for this motion here," he said.

"Our issue is having a highway in the communities and getting cellphone services."

The vote on the motion was tied five-five when Speaker Paul Delorey broke the tie, voting for the status quo, as is convention.

Tabled by Frame Lake MLA Wendy Bisaro, the motion called for a ban on the use of hand-held devices while driving a motor vehicle. The motion stated drivers using hand-held devices are four times more likely to be involved in a collision, adding the Canadian Automobile Association sites cellphone use while driving as the number one cause of road accidents.

"The safest travel choice is to turn off your cellphone when you get behind the wheel of a vehicle," said Bisaro. "Unfortunately, people need to be coerced to make that right choice."

She went on to say five other provinces in Canada have already banned cellphone use while driving, and four more were weighing up the option.

She said there was, "no need to reinvent the wheel," given that the Yukon is considering a ban that may take effect early next year and their process could be emulated by the NWT.

In an interview after the vote, Bisaro said she was disappointed by the result, saying the issue was not just a problem for Yellowknife.

"I hate to put it this way but, if somebody in one of the communities gets injured or killed and they determine it was because someone was on a cellphone, well then it will become a bigger issue and maybe we'll get more support," she said. "But that's a horrible way to have to go."

The MLA will try to get the motion through in the future.

"Maybe in a year's time, I'll try it again and see whether or not things have changed," she said.

Robert Hawkins, MLA for Yellowknife Centre, said he was worried the NWT would be left behind on the issue, with so many other jurisdictions banning cellphone use in cars.

"The Yukon doesn't want to seem to be last," said Hawkins. "The sad thing is I am watching them drive by us on this issue."