New Year, New Laws! The Province of Ontario unveiled new distracted driving laws effective January 1, 2019. The hope is that these strict laws will deter dangerous driving behaviour.
We’ve heard the statistics and we’ve seen the deadly outcomes from distracted driving. So why do so many people continue to drive while distracted?
Distracted drivers are three times more likely to be involved in an accident. 30% of all collisions are caused by distracted driving - this is a major, but avoidable, problem.
New Year, New Laws
Out with the old and in with the new! To prevent distracted driving, the Province of Ontario began enforcing new laws as of January 1, 2019. Individuals convicted with distracted driving offences will face harsher punishments.
What to expect:
According to Ontario.ca, “If you hold a G1, G2, M1 or M2 licence, and are convicted of distracted driving, you’ll face the same fines as drivers with A to G licences. But you won’t receive any demerit points.”
- a 30-day licence suspension for a first conviction
- a 90-day licence suspension for a second conviction
- cancellation of your licence and removal from the Graduated Licensing System (GLS) for a third conviction (to get your licence back you’d have to redo the GLS program)
If you aren’t a novice driver, you can review the applicable fines/suspensions regarding offenses here.
What you can use:
- Hands-free device (i.e. Bluetooth) but only to turn it on and off
- Mounted device (i.e. phone, GPS) as long as it is secure and not moving
Considering distracted drivers cause over four million accidents each year in North America it is essential we refrain from engaging in this fatal behavior.
Ensure your safety and the safety of other drivers by being alert behind the wheel; don’t become a part of the deadly distracted driving statistics.
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