Your Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 1-888-404-5167
Preszler Injury Lawyers

New Ontario Laws Crack Down on Distracted Driving

Distracted driving, particularly the use of handheld devices while driving, has become such a huge problem that the Ontario government is proposing new laws.

The Ontario Provincial Police explain the magnitude of the issue at hand: “Distracted driving is cited as a causal factor in 30 to 50 percent of traffic collisions in Ontario, but is probably much higher due to under-reporting.”

Distracted driving kills. Period. And the laws are finally being put into place to encourage drivers to keep their eyes on the road and to put safety first.

The Dangers of Distracted Driving

Distracted driving has become the number-one killer on the roads in Ontario, reports CBC News. When you take your eyes off the road for two seconds, it doubles your risk of crashing, reports the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (OMT). Using a cellphone, texting or scrolling through your Facebook feed draws your eyes off the road for more than two seconds.

Furthermore, drivers using a cell phone are four times more likely to be involved in a crash than those who are focused on the road, cautions the OMT.

The OMT reports a few more alarming statistics from various studies:

  • People react 18 percent slower when using a cell phone than when not using one. (Strayer and Drews, 2004)
  • Texting increases your risk of crashing by nearly three times. (Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, 2009)
  • Truck drivers who texted in one study increased their risk of crashing by 23.2 times. (Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, 2009)
  • The rate at which teens failed to identify potential dangers rose 50 percent when using a cell phone. (Ford Motor Company, 2007)

Ontario’s New Road Safety Bill

The above statistics are only a snapshot of the dangers of distracted drivers; there are actually scores of studies pointing to the risks. And Ontario lawmakers are fed up.

In an effort to discourage distracted driving and to make Ontario roads safer for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians, Transportation Minister Glen Murray introduced a bill proposal – the Keeping Ontario’s Roads Safe Act – that increases fines and gives demerit points to those caught driving distractedly.

Currently, Ontario drivers will only get penalized with small fines if they are cited for using a handheld device while driving, and there are no demerit points. The proposed legislation would increase fines up to $1,000 and provide that drivers can get three demerit points. Demerit points on drivers’ records can mean higher insurance premiums.

“We need to make distracted driving as socially unacceptable as impaired driving, and we think some of provisions included today should do that,” Canadian Automobile Association spokeswoman Teresa Di Felice said, reports the Toronto Star.

Keeping Ontario’s Roads Safe Act

It’s lawmakers’ hope that the new act will discourage dangerous behaviors on the road and allow motorists, cyclists and pedestrians to commute safely in Ontario.

Under the proposed laws, stringent attention to the road is required in order to avoid citation. CBC News shares the Toronto Police Department’s no-nonsense explanation: The offense applies to “any action that a driver engages in [that] takes their focus away from the safe operation of a motor vehicle.”

Legal Counsel in Ontario

If you are in need of counsel or representation in Ontario following an accident that a distracted driver caused, Preszler Injury Lawyers may be able to assist you. Contact us for a free consultation.

 

Call us now at
1-800-JUSTICE
®

151 Eglinton Ave W,
Toronto, ON
M4R 1A6
Fax: 1-855-364-7027
Toll Free: 1-888-608-2111
4145 N Service Rd
Burlington, ON
L7L 4X6
Fax: 1-855-364-7027
Toll Free: 1-888-608-2111
2 County Ct Blvd #400,
Brampton, ON
L6W 3W8
Fax: 1-855-364-7027
Toll Free: 1-888-608-2111
105 Consumers Drive
Whitby, ON
L1N 1C4
Fax: 1-855-364-7027
Toll Free: 1-888-608-2111
92 Caplan Ave #121,
Barrie, ON
L4N 0Z7
Fax: 1-855-364-7027
Toll Free: 1-888-608-2111
380 Wellington St Tower B, 6th Floor,
London, ON
N6A 5B5
Toll Free: 1-888-608-2111
2233 Argentia Rd Suite 302,
East Tower Mississauga, ON
L5N 6A6
Toll Free: 1-888-608-2111
1 Hunter St E,
Hamilton, ON
L8N 3W1
Fax: 1-855-364-7027
Toll Free: 1-888-608-2111
459 George St N,
Peterborough, ON
K9H 3R9
Fax: 1-855-364-7027
Toll Free: 1-888-608-2111
22 Frederick Street,
Suite 700
Kitchener, ON N2H 6M6
Fax: 1-855-364-7027
Toll Free: 1-888-608-2111
116 Lisgar Street, Suite 300
Ottawa ON
K2P 0C2
Toll Free: 1-888-608-2111
10 Milner Business Ct #300,
Scarborough, ON
M1B 3C6
Toll Free: 1-888-608-2111
*consultation offices

DISCLAIMER: Please be advised that the header image and other images throughout this website may include both lawyer and non-lawyer/paralegal employees of Preszler Injury Lawyers and DPJP Professional Corporation and unrelated third parties. Our spokesperson John Fraser, or any other non-lawyer/paralegals in our marketing is not to be construed in any way as misleading to the public. Our marketing efforts are not intended to suggest qualitative superiority to other lawyers, paralegals or law firms in any way. Any questions regarding the usage of non-lawyers in our legal marketing or otherwise can be directed to our management team. Please also note that past results are not indicative of future results and that each case is unique and that case results listed on site are from experiences across Canada and are not specific to any province. Please be advised that some of the content on this website may be out of date. None of the content is intended to act as legal advice as each situation is independent and unique and requires individual legal advice from a licensed lawyer or paralegal. For legal advice on your individual situation – we can provide legal guidance after you have contacted our firm and we have established a lawyer-client relationship contractually. Maximum contingency fee charged is 33%. Finally, our usage of awards and logos for awards does not suggest qualitative superiority to other lawyers, paralegals or law firms. All awards received from third party organizations have been done so through their own reasonable evaluative process and do not include any payment for these awards except for the use of the award logos for our marketing assets. We are also proud to service additional provinces like Alberta, British Columbia and Nova Scotia.