The provincial Liberals re-introduced legislation aimed at cracking down on distracted driving.
Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca made the announcement at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on Tuesday afternoon.
If the bill passes, a person caught using a phone while driving will face a fine in the range of $300 to $1,000 and three demerit points. That’s a significant jump from the current fines ranging from $60 to $500.
The legislation, which was sidelined when the provincial election was called in May, would also apply current impaired driving penalties to those convicted of driving while impaired on drugs.
It would also increase penalties for drivers who ‘door’ cyclists and require all drivers (when possible) to maintain a one-metre distance when passing cyclists.
“If passed, our legislation will help keep pedestrians, drivers and cyclists safe on Ontario’s roads,” Del Duca said.
If passed, the law would be the toughest anti-distracted driving law in the country.
A recent Centre for Addiction and Mental Health survey found that more than one-third of licensed Ontario students in grades 10 to 12 admitted to texting while behind the wheel at least once in the past year.
Studies show that drivers who are texting are 23 times more likely to get into a collision.
Using handheld devices to text, email, or talk on your cell phone while driving has been banned in Ontario since 2009, but the province said stiffer penalties are needed.
As of July 31, Ontario provincial police said 11,500 distracted driving charges have been laid against drivers due to hand-held devices.
According to the OPP, as of Oct. 5, there have been 45 distracted-related collision deaths in Ontario this year, compared to 68 in 2013.
View interactive diagram depicting types of road fatalities using 2013-14 data from the OPP. Mobile viewers
Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca made the announcement at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on Tuesday afternoon.
If the bill passes, a person caught using a phone while driving will face a fine in the range of $300 to $1,000 and three demerit points. That’s a significant jump from the current fines ranging from $60 to $500.
The legislation, which was sidelined when the provincial election was called in May, would also apply current impaired driving penalties to those convicted of driving while impaired on drugs.
It would also increase penalties for drivers who ‘door’ cyclists and require all drivers (when possible) to maintain a one-metre distance when passing cyclists.
“If passed, our legislation will help keep pedestrians, drivers and cyclists safe on Ontario’s roads,” Del Duca said.
If passed, the law would be the toughest anti-distracted driving law in the country.
A recent Centre for Addiction and Mental Health survey found that more than one-third of licensed Ontario students in grades 10 to 12 admitted to texting while behind the wheel at least once in the past year.
Studies show that drivers who are texting are 23 times more likely to get into a collision.
Using handheld devices to text, email, or talk on your cell phone while driving has been banned in Ontario since 2009, but the province said stiffer penalties are needed.
As of July 31, Ontario provincial police said 11,500 distracted driving charges have been laid against drivers due to hand-held devices.
According to the OPP, as of Oct. 5, there have been 45 distracted-related collision deaths in Ontario this year, compared to 68 in 2013.
View interactive diagram depicting types of road fatalities using 2013-14 data from the OPP. Mobile viewers
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