A proposed new law will soon force Ontarians to pay a hefty fine if they are caught using a cellphone while driving.
In fact, as early as this fall, fines for distracted driving will increase from $60-$500 to $300-$1,000. The new law will also ensure that maximum of three demerit points are added to the driver’s record, since there are currently no demerit points issued for using a smartphone while driving.
These penalties would make Ontario drivers the most heavily-fined in all of Canada – but that may be a necessity. According to the Ontario Provincial Police, earlier this year, the investigations into distracted-driving deaths have surpassed those caused by impaired driving.
The OPP have revealed that 35 people have died so far this year in motor collisions in which an inattentive driver was a contributing factor.
According to Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca, the proposed new law will be introduced when the provincial legislature resumes this fall. Del Duca has vowed to support Premier Kathleen Wynne’s government plans to revive this bill.
Distracted driving seems to be a common issue across North America, and different provinces and states are implementing new laws to combat it. However, a recent study conducted in California suggests that distracted-driving laws do not reduce the amount of accidents.
