The case of a man who repeatedly broke the law against distracted driving has raised questions as to whether the penalties are tough enough to deter people from using cell phones or other electronic devices while driving.
The man from the western city of Vancouver, British Columbia racked up 26 tickets and fines of $4,300 before his car was finally impounded.
Distracted driving kills
Highway accidents linked with distracted driving are increasing in Canada. Police in the province of Ontario say this has become the “Number one killer on the roads” in their jurisdiction. They report that 78 people died in crashes related to distracted driving in 2013, compared with 57 deaths related to impaired (by drugs or alcohol) driving and 44 related to speed.
Penalties for drunk driving are harsher than those for distracted driving in most Canadian provinces. University of Waterloo sociologist Jennifer Schulenberg thinks it’s time to make them comparable.
Law “hasn’t kept pace”
“This behaviour (distracted driving) is as serious as driving under the influence (of alcohol or drugs), but our legislation hasn’t kept pace with that fact,” Schulenberg she told the public broadcaster, CBC.
“The only way we can have the teeth to truly prevent what we saw in Vancouver, with 26 infractions, is for it to become a criminal offence much like driving under the influence.”
Each province and territory has its own laws on driving. Using an electronic device while driving in British Columbia risks a fine of $167 and three demerit points removed from one’s driver’s license. Other provinces fine offenders as much as $400.
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