Texting is dangerous. If you don’t believe this statement—watch a person walk and text; guaranteed they’ll bump into another pedestrian on the sidewalk every other second. If this is what happens when people are simply walking and texting, just imagine the damage texting and driving creates. Distracted driving laws now exist in Ontario to prevent drivers from using any hand-held devices while driving.
Distracted driving laws in Ontario are in place for a reason, and the statistics don’t lie. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that: “80% of collisions and 65% of near crashes have some form of driver inattention as contributing factors” (2010). This shows the detrimental effects distracted driving has on all of the drivers involved.
Ontario’s distracted driving law explains that it is against the law to:
- ·operate hand-held communication and electronic entertainment devices while you're driving; and
- ·view display screens unrelated to your driving.
It’s important to be clear on what constitutes a “hand-held device” before you begin swiping left on your iPad and getting pulled over by the police shortly thereafter.
Hand-Held Devices
Hand-held devices include:
- Laptops
- GPS and MP3 players
- iPods
- Cell phones
- Smart phones
- DVD players
If you are caught swiping, touching, tapping, looking at, or playing with these devices in a vehicle, you are violating the distracted driving laws in Ontario. It is best to put any hand-held devices in your glove compartment or in the back seat of your vehicle, as they are less likely to distract you when out of sight.
Hiring a Toronto Personal Injury Lawyer
If you are involved in a car accident due to distracted driving, it’s important to contact a serious accident lawyer to help you with your case. A serious accident lawyer knows the Ontario distracted driving laws best and will ensure that you receive the compensation that you deserve after the accident. Book a serious accident lawyer at Sokoloff today, and fight back after unfortunate circumstances create unwelcomed stress in your life.
Sources:
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/distracted-driving.shtml