It does not take long driving on any public highway to find your first person talking or typing on their hand-held phone willfully disregarding Ontario’s law which prohibits hand-held device use while driving. In reaction to the this flagrant disregard Ontario is increasing fines for distracted driving from the current $155 including victim surcharge and court costs to $280 including victim surcharge and court costs starting March 18, 2014. They are also considering adding demerit points.
Despite the fact that most states and provinces have some sort of regulation governing hand-held devices there doesn’t seem to be much impact in actual practice. The Ontario OPP estimate that between 30-50% of traffic accidents have distracted driving cited as a cause. Some studies even estimate traffic fatalities caused by distracted driving is surpassing driving under the influence. With all of this new information you have to wonder why people still choose to use their cell phones and other devices while driving.
Here is a refresher on what you can and can not do with your hand-held devices while driving in Ontario.
Not allowed:
It is illegal for drivers to talk, text, type, dial or email using a hand-held cell phone or other hand-held communication and entertainment device.
Drivers are also prohibited from being able to view display screens while driving from devices like laptops and DVD players.
Using your cell phone as a hand-held GPS, MP3 player, or any other hand-help purpose while driving is prohibited.
What is allowed:
- You are able to use hands-free devices such as blue tooth headsets to accept and make calls as long as you push only ONE button to use the device. For example to accept a call.
- You are allowed to use GPS devices that are properly mounted
- You are allowed to use portable audio players like MP3 players that are plugged into your vehicle’s audio system
- It is important to note using your cell phone as a hand-held GPS, MP3 player, or any other hand-help purpose while driving is prohibited.
- You are allowed to call 911 in an emergency
- You can safely pull over or off the road so long as you are not impeding traffic and use your hand-held device.
- You can still use display screens that are built into vehicles
Little known exemptions:
If you ever saw a police officer on their phone and thought to yourself they are breaking the law, you are wrong. They are exempt under this law as are paramedics, firefighters and other enforcement offices, while performing their duties.
Commercial drivers in transport-related industries and public service workers like transit and highway maintenance that rely on the uses of certain types of wireless devices (think CB’s) and display screen technologies in the performance of their duties are exempt until January 1, 2018.
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