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Legislation to make the province's roads safer by prohibiting
the use of hand-held devices to talk, text or e-mail while
driving, today received third reading in the legislature.
Drivers will be prohibited from using hand-held cell phones and
other hand-held electronic entertainment or communications
devices while driving. The use of hands-free devices would be
permitted.
Emergency calls, such as calls to 911, will not be affected.
Transport Canada estimates that driver distraction is a
contributing factor in about 20 per cent of all collisions.
Drivers who use cell phones are four times more likely to be in
a crash.
Once supporting regulations are developed, the new law could be
in effect as early as this fall.
QUOTES
"We want drivers to focus on the task of driving: driving
safely must always be a driver's primary task and
responsibility: anything less is unacceptable. Eyes on the road,
hands on the wheel - it is one of the basic tenets of safe
driving," said Transportation Minister Jim Bradley.
QUICK FACTS
- Once the new law is in place, drivers who text, type,
email, dial, or chat using a prohibited hand-held device
could be fined up to $500.
- Ontario will join more than 50 countries worldwide
that already have similar laws in place, and a growing
number of North American jurisdictions such as Quebec,
Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, California and
New York.
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