Distracted driving is nothing new but to reduce the number of accidents caused by drivers that text and drive, Ontario is proposing new laws to make distracted driving much more expensive. Texting and driving are already against the law in Ontario, but the proposed regulations provide a way to fine motorists caught in the act. The proposed regulations would also allow drivers to be fined if they are stopped at a red light or stop sign.
Ontario’s government has proposed new distracted driving laws that are designed to keep the roads safe for everyone, including drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. These new laws would also see the fine for distracted driving go up to $1,000, which is the maximum fine that can be imposed for any single offence under the Highway Traffic Act. The proposed laws would also ban motorists from reading, writing, or sending text messages, watching videos, playing games, or performing any other activities that require the use of hands or eyes on hand-held devices. However, the new distracted driving laws do not include any provisions for using navigation systems.
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What Does Distracted Driving Mean?
Driving is one of the most dangerous things people do during their day. Ontario’s current distracted driving laws are complex and have made recent headlines for the confusion they have created. Ontario’s distracted driving laws are more complex than those of other provinces and territories, and the government is looking into ways to simplify them.
Distracted driving is not just about texting and driving, it is also about eating, reading, or doing other activities while on the road. The Ontario government is proposing new laws to help keep everybody safe on the road. Ontario’s New Distracted Driving laws include tougher distracted driving and seat belt rules, as well as the creation of a new offence of careless driving causing death or bodily harm. The penalties for distracted driving (and texting and driving) will also be increased, including the possibility of a jail term of up to two years.
How To Avoid Being Charged With Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving is one of the least talked about causes of motor vehicle accidents. While our society has made great strides in reducing the number of people impaired by alcohol or other drugs, distracted driving is still a danger that a large number of drivers take lightly. Distracted driving usually occurs when a driver is engaged in an activity that takes their attention away from the road. The easiest way to avoid being charged with distracted driving is to limit or eliminate the number of distractions in your car. For example, it would be a good idea to keep your phone out of reach or keep it on the passenger side of the car so you have to look away from the road to use it.
What To Do If You’ve Been Charged With Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving has reached epidemic proportions in Ontario, so much so that the provincial government has proposed new laws to crack down on the issue. The proposed changes will see distracted driving laws changed to include distracted walking; in addition to recognizing that distracted driving can come in many forms, several new offences have been added to help police determine whether someone was driving dangerously while distracted, including:
- Drivers using handheld devices are prohibited.
- Driver failing to yield the right of way to a pedestrian while using a handheld device prohibited.
- Pedestrians using handheld devices are prohibited.
- Failure to attend to driving.
- Driver permitting the use of the handheld device by the passenger.
