Source: Government of Ontario
TORONTO, Ontario--Legislation to make the province's roads safer by prohibiting the use of hand-held devices to talk, text or e-mail while driving, today received third reading in the legislature.
Drivers will be prohibited from using hand-held cell phones and other hand-held electronic entertainment or communications devices while driving. The use of hands-free devices would be permitted.
Emergency calls, such as calls to 911, will not be affected.
Transport Canada estimates that driver distraction is a contributing factor in about 20 per cent of all collisions. Drivers who use cell phones are four times more likely to be in a crash.
Once supporting regulations are developed, the new law could be in effect as early as this fall.
Once the new law is in place, drivers who text, type, email, dial, or chat using a prohibited hand-held device could be fined up to $500.
Ontario will join more than 50 countries worldwide that already have similar laws in place, and a growing number of North American jurisdictions such as Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, California and New York.
photo:Jupiter Images
TORONTO, Ontario--Legislation to make the province's roads safer by prohibiting the use of hand-held devices to talk, text or e-mail while driving, today received third reading in the legislature.
Drivers will be prohibited from using hand-held cell phones and other hand-held electronic entertainment or communications devices while driving. The use of hands-free devices would be permitted.
Emergency calls, such as calls to 911, will not be affected.
Transport Canada estimates that driver distraction is a contributing factor in about 20 per cent of all collisions. Drivers who use cell phones are four times more likely to be in a crash.
Once supporting regulations are developed, the new law could be in effect as early as this fall.
Once the new law is in place, drivers who text, type, email, dial, or chat using a prohibited hand-held device could be fined up to $500.
Ontario will join more than 50 countries worldwide that already have similar laws in place, and a growing number of North American jurisdictions such as Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, California and New York.
photo:Jupiter Images