There is a new smartphone coming out weekly it seems, but the world is adjusting to these powerful devices. As soon as a notification appears on the home screen of a phone, people stop everything they’re doing and become completely distracted by their devices. In Ontario, it is now illegal for people to be talking on their phone, texting, emailing, tweeting, etc. while driving. This law ensures that distracted drivers use their phones on their own time and focus on the road first.
Here are a few of the risks of distracted driving:
- It is said that drivers who are distracted and on their cell phones while driving are four times more likely to be involved in automobile accidents than drivers who are concentrated .
- It takes only two seconds of not focusing on the road to double the risk of an automobile accident.
As you can see, it does not take long for automobile accidents to occur as a result of distracted driving. One text could ruin several lives, but it is difficult for some people to put this into perspective, especially when responding to a text seems to be the most important thing to them in the moment.
Fines for Distracted Driving
If you “operate hand-held communication and electronic entertainment devices while you’re driving” or “view display screens unrelated to your driving” then you are breaking the law in Ontario (Ministry of Transportation, 2015).
With any law that is broken, there are the consequence to match. For breaking the distracted driving laws in Ontario you can receive a fine of $225, a victim surcharge and court fee added on to this, totaling $280 if the case was settled outside of court. You can also receive a fine of up to $500 for fighting your ticket in court or receiving a summons.
Distracted driving is not worth the consequences, and it’s tragic that automobile accidents are being caused by such a preventable situation. It’s time to keep your phone tucked away and make driving, and focusing on the roads, your number one priority.
Sources:
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/distracted-driving.shtml