In some cases, a driver s licence may be suspended for up to. According to a written email from mto officials, the distracted driving changes made under the cannabis, smokefree ontario and road safety statute law amendment act will come into effect in the. Licenses cannot be seized by the responding officer at the time of the violation. Ontarios tough distracted driving laws one step closer to. Ontarios new driving laws will mean automatic suspension of driver. It seems to be the harshest penalty driven regulation in canada. Ontarios new distracted driving law to start in 2019 cbc. New distracted driving laws in ontario you better read. Ontarios new driving laws will mean automatic suspension of drivers licences for distracted driving anchorman canada episode for 11. According to ontario traffic statistics, on average one person is injured in a distracteddriving collision every 30 minutes, and a driver. Stiffer fines and longterm consequences are coming for distracted drivers in ontario in 2019. Jan 01, 2020 a conviction will also cost the driver four demerit points. Distracted driving policy examples road safety at work.
New distracted driving rules in ontario as of january 1 otip raeo. Ontarios distracted driving laws apply to the use of handheld communication entertainment devices and certain display screens. Most of us are aware that its illegal to use handheld devices while driving, but there are tons of other myths out there about what else we cant do. Distracted driving policy examples because driving while distracted is a leading cause or contributor to motor vehicle incidents mvis, one of the most effective ways that employers can make a positive impact to reduce workrelated mvis is to have and implement a policy that prohibits cell phone use while driving, and restricts your. Nov 19, 2018 police sources have confirmed that ontarios new driving laws, which received royal assent earlier this year, will officially take effect in the province on jan. This includes drivers, passengers, pedestrians and cyclists. In addition to using a phone, which is explicitly prohibited. First, convictions under the distracted driving rules will result in the driver having his or her. Theres new distracted driving laws that will be enforced as of january 1 2019 as a part of bill 174 cannabis, smokefree ontario and road safety statute law amendment act.
New distracted driving laws in ontario tektonic managed. In ontario, it is illegal for drivers to talk, text, type, dial or email using handheld cell phones and other handheld communications and entertainment devices. Stiff new penalties for distracted, impaired driving in. Eating, grooming yourself, reaching for something or even talking to another passenger in the car can also take your attention away from the road, but these distractions wont lead to a distracted driving charge. Ontario proposes new distracted driving laws isure. Ontarios distracted driving laws demelo law professional. Drivers 21 years old and older are prohibited from using a handheld device in any school zone or work zone. Heres what counts as distracted driving under ontarios new. Effective january 1, 2019, there are new distracted driving laws in ontario.
Distracted driving laws in ontario explained jasmine. It has surpassed impaired driving as the number one killer on the roads, and it is an issue that drivers need to take more seriously. New ontario distracted driving laws for 2019 explained. If convicted of distracted driving, a novice driver subject to the graduated licensing program will be subject to escalating sanctions. Statistics from 20 show that one person is injured in a distracted driving accident every half hour, and a distracted driver is four times more likely to be involved in an accident than a driver. Perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind about distracted driving is that it is preventable. The government of ontario reports that deaths from collisions caused by distracted driving have doubled in the last 20 years. Most drivers caught, talking, texting, dialing or emailing on a handheld device will be fined up to. Ontarios tough distracted driving rules to take effect jan. According to the official government of ontario website, anything that causes a driver to be less focused on the road constitutes distracted driving.
The distracted driving laws in ontario have changed quite a bit over the past few years. Ontario is a leading jurisdiction in allowing autonomous vehicles, rastin says. Ontario new distracted driving laws came into effect january 1, 2019. Find out the risks of distracted driving, which devices you can and cant use and the penalties you could incur. Distracted driving policy examples because driving while distracted is a leading cause or contributor to motor vehicle incidents mvis, one of the most effective ways that employers can make a positive. Jan 22, 2020 the government of ontario reports that deaths from collisions caused by distracted driving have doubled in the last 20 years. The ontario highway traffic act has been amended to provide higher penalties for careless driving causing bodily harm or death, failing to yield to pedestrians, and distracted driving. New distracted driving laws to take effect next week the. Police sources have confirmed that ontarios new driving laws, which received royal assent earlier this year, will officially take effect in the province on jan.
Heres what counts as distracted driving under ontarios. In ontario, deaths from distracted driving have doubled since 2000, and it is illegal to use a cellphone or any other handheld wireless. Statistics from 20 show that one person is injured in a distracted driving accident every half hour, and a distracted driver is four times more likely to be involved in an accident than a driver who is not considered. Thats why there are driving laws in place that penalize people who are found to be driving while distracted. Distracted driving ticket could increase your insurance by. Distracted driving puts canadas road users at risk. A driver using a phone is four times more likely to crash. I dont think the government can stop the advance of technologies. A driver using a phone while driving is 4 times more likely to crash than a driver. Jan 27, 2020 under ontario law, distracted driving refers specifically to using handheld electronic devices behind the wheel.
Distracted driving penalties increase under new ontario law this summer ontario has finally turned up the heat on distracting driving with major increases in fines and demerit points. This january in ontario the penalty for distracted driving will include automatic 3 day licence suspensions. Ontarios new distracted driving law to start in 2019 cbc news. Ontario s new distracted driving law to start in 2019. When the driver is lawfully parked or has safely pulled off the roadway and is not impeding traffic. Prevailing wisdom might have you thinking that the typical distracted driver is a 20 something year old millennial, and you would be right. However, bob nichols, spokesperson for ontario ministry of transportation has mentioned that a driver who eats while driving may get a ticket as it endangers the safety of other road users. Guide to distracted driving in ontario the canada car buying guide.
Are there any exemptions to ontarios distracted driving law. The purpose of these new laws is to reduce the number of drivers who attempt to use. New ontario driving law means automatic suspension of. Ontario has pretty clear laws regarding distracted driving. For drivers in toronto, for example, ontario responded with pretty hefty distracted driving rules.
While eating is not a specific part of most provinces distracted driving law, some regions of canadasuch as ontariohave enacted stricter penalties for snacking while in the driver s seat. Sep 04, 2015 on september 1st 2015, ontario s the new distracted driving law took effect. Ottawa distracted driving accident lawyers preszler law. It was mostly to crack down on holding or using your phone while driving, due to the increase in smartphone use. Ontarios new distracted driving laws to take effect jan. Outdated browsers lack safety features that keep your information secure, and they can also be slow. Simply holding an electronic device in your hands handheld communication during driving is against the law. And while the focus of this new law may be on those using electronic devices while driving, distracted driving includes any activity that takes a driver s eyes off the road. A new law in ontario has been implemented that means anyone convicted of distracted driving will be punished with an automatic suspension of their driver s licence as well as a significant fine. New distracted driving laws in ontario you better read this.
Distracted driving has been an increasing concern in recent years, and ontario. Understanding ontarios new 2019 distracted driving laws. Data from 20 shows that one person is injured in a distracted driving collision every half hour. Distracted driving penalties in ontario in ontario, deaths from distracted driving have doubled since 2000, and it is illegal to use a cellphone or any other handheld wireless communication device to text or dial and view display screens or program a gps system, even if stopped at a red light. According to the ontario ministry of transportation, it is against the law to. First, convictions under the distracted driving rules will result in the driver having his or her license suspended for up to five years. It has surpassed impaired driving as the number one killer on the. A conviction will also cost the driver four demerit points. Although distracted driving laws existed in ontario for over a decade, regulators are tweaking some parts of the law. Dec 29, 2018 according to the government of ontario website, deaths from collisions caused by distracted driving have doubled since 2000. The judge fined the distracted driver the maximum under the highway traffic act at that time 20. According to the government of ontario website, deaths from collisions caused by distracted driving have doubled since 2000. On january 1, 2019, the existing fines and penalties for distracted drivers in ontario are increasing.
Put down the phone is a distracted driving movement in ontario, that aims to reduce the amount of accidents caused by drivers using. Many jurisdictions mark the start of the new year with new laws. When driving, you are not permitted to use handheld communication and entertainment devices or view display screens unrelated to the driving task, with the following exceptions. Distracted driving in the news again ontario toronto. Only, those capable of distracted driving is anyone who has a cell. In some cases, a driver s licence may be suspended for up to two years. Are there any exemptions to ontario s distracted driving law. Jun, 2018 the new laws for distracted driving in ontario are set to take effect on jan. Apparently eating food behind the wheel may get you a big ticket in the new year. In ontario, it is against the law to use handheld devices while operating a motor vehicle and to view display screens unrelated to your driving. If you want to make sure you avoid breaking the law. However, bob nichols, spokesperson for ontario ministry of transportation has mentioned that a driver. New distracted driving rules in ontario as of january 1 on january 1, 2019, the existing fines and penalties for distracted drivers in ontario are increasing.
Jan 16, 2020 distracted driving is one of the biggest issues on ontario roadways today. When it comes to distracted driving in ontario, following the rules isnt optional. Stiffer distracted driving penalties took effect on jan. The law has been passed its now just a matter of time, toronto police const. A driver using a phone while driving is 4 times more likely to crash than a driver focused on the road. In ontario, deaths from collisions caused by distracted driving have doubled since 2000. Jan 15, 2018 new rules that will mean automatic driver s licence suspension for convicted distracted drivers in ontario will soon take effect after receiving royal assent, 680news has learned.
Those caught distracted driving will face much harsher punishments than previous years from skyrocketing fines, jackedup demerit fines and licence suspensions are. We compared ontario car insurance quotes for a driver with a clean driving history in six different cities. For law enforcers, january 1st means more than just new year resolutions. As of january 1st, 2019 there was an update to ontarios laws regarding distracted driving. This is one of ontarios toughest rules of the road. A section of the ontario cannabis legislation, which was passed in 2017, is expected to affect drivers in the province starting on january 1.
Keep in mind that deaths from collisions caused by distracted driving have doubled in ontario since 2000. In ontario one person is injured in a distracteddriving collision every half hour. The length of suspension and fine will increase for repeat offenders. The law in ontario is very strict, and requires drivers to be free from any form of distraction while operating a vehicle. Ontario will soon be rolling out new driving laws that will apply stricter punishments on individuals caught driving while distracted. Data from 20 has found that one person is injured in a distracteddriving collision every half hour and a driver using a phone is four times more likely to crash than one who is not distracted. Aimed at increasing or creating new punishments for distracted driving on ontario roads.
In theory, it can be anything that could take a driver s eyes off the road, or mental concentration away from driving. Ontarios new distracted driving law to start in 2019. Risks of distracted driving good drivers keep their hands on. What is the new distracted driving law in ontario starting in 2019. Under the law, drivers may use handsfree devices or devices such as a cell phone or gps device provided that they are securely mounted. Under ontario law, distracted driving refers specifically to using handheld electronic devices behind the wheel. One of those new laws is ontarios new distracted driving laws. New ontario bylaws will mean automatic driver s licence suspension for convicted distracted drivers in ontario are soon to take effect after receiving royal assent. Jan 11, 2019 but, ontarios distracteddriving law section 78. Ontarios distracted driving laws in september 2015 the province of ontario increased fines and penalties associated with distracted driving. Ontarios new driving laws will mean automatic suspension of driver s licences for distracted driving. Once youve got a cell phone ticket in ontario, according to the recent law changes you can face the following penalties. Nov 15, 2018 this january in ontario the penalty for distracted driving will include automatic 3 day licence suspensions. Distracted driving is one of the biggest issues on ontario roadways today.
We at our law firm consider it the new drunk driving. What are ontarios new careless and distracted driving. Guide to distracted driving in ontario the canada car. Tougher penalties for texting and driving in ontario. Fines for firsttime offenders will more than double from the. Distracted driving has already been an offense in ontario, but the new law strengthens the penalties to make it more of a deterrent than what it had been. Well, the distracted driving law in ontario has banned the use of handheld devices since october 2009. Eating, grooming yourself, reaching for something or even talking to another. Distracted driving is driving while performing any activity which could potentially distract a driver from the primary task of operating a vehicle. New distracted driving rules in ontario as of january 1. When driving, you are not permitted to use handheld communication and entertainment devices or view display screens. The automatic suspension of driver s licences, as well as the charging fines of. The wireless communications device law states no driver in california may write, send, or.