A crash, credited to cell-phone use, just after PEI introduced heavier fines in that province. Ontario has introduced new fines for this and other infractions

A crash, credited to cell-phone use, just after Prince Edward Island introduced heavier fines in that province. Ontario has introduced new fines for this and other infractions
Photo Credit: RCMP / AJ MacFarlane

Distracted driving costs more in Ontario

Distracted driving, dooring and not moving over for tow-trucks will cost more in dollars and demerit points. Ontario inaugurated some new fines yesterday.

“distracted driving has exceeded impaired driving as a causal factor in fatal collisions”

“Since 2009, more than 500 people have died in collisions on Ontario Provincial Police-controlled roads, in which driver inattention was a causal factor,” said Sgt. Dave Rektor of the Ontario Provincial Police. “Statistically speaking, distracted driving has exceeded impaired driving as a causal factor in fatal collisions.”

Rektor said texting or checking a phone while driving aren’t the only behaviours deemed as distracted driving, which incorporates anything that takes a driver’s eyes off the road.

“Fussing with kids in the back of the car, pushing buttons on a stereo, reaching for something—anything that distracts you from driving [counts],” he said.

Drivers convicted of distracted driving now face a minimum fine of $490 and three demerit points with the maximum set at $1,000. The previous minimum was a $280 fine in Ontario. (all these amounts are in Canadian dollars)

That’s still less than fines for distracted driving in P.E.I., the costliest in the country, which start at a $500 minimum and go to a maximum of $1,200, plus five demerit points. Drivers in Manitoba convicted of distracted driving will also get five demerit points, but the fine is lower at just $200

Hitting a cyclist with a door will now cost a minimum fine of $365 and three demerit points. The previous minimum fines were $60 to $500, according to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation.

The demerit points matter as a loss of 15, will suspend a licence for 30 days. If a driver does not surrender the licence, it will be suspended for 2 years.

Ontario has a ‘move over law’ to allow emergency vehicles the space to respond. Now they have expanded that law to include tow-trucks and drivers who don’t comply will face a minimum fine of $490 for not pulling over to the right.

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