Alberta is proposing to pass the strictest distracted driving legislation of all Canadian provinces, which according to Transport Minister Luke Ouellette “sends a powerful safety message to all Albertans.”
All drivers caught engaging in one or several of the following activities will receive a $172 fine but not lose any demerit points:
Drivers that run a red light or make an illegal lane change because of any of these distractions may be further penalized with a $402 fine and the loss of six demerit points.
The bill does make allowance for contacting emergency services and truckers using their radios for commercial purposes. Police officers, firefighters and ambulance drivers are not subject to this legislation in the line of duty.
Nova Scotia, Newfoundland/Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Ontario and Saskatchewan have already banned the use of hand-held cell phones while driving.
All drivers caught engaging in one or several of the following activities will receive a $172 fine but not lose any demerit points:
- Using a hand-held cell phone
- Sending text messages or emails
- Using electronic devices such as laptop computers, video games, cameras, video entertainment systems and portable audio players (such as MP3 players)
- Entering information into a GPS
- Reading printed material
- Writing
- Drawing
- Personal grooming (shaving, applying makeup, etc.)
Drivers that run a red light or make an illegal lane change because of any of these distractions may be further penalized with a $402 fine and the loss of six demerit points.
The bill does make allowance for contacting emergency services and truckers using their radios for commercial purposes. Police officers, firefighters and ambulance drivers are not subject to this legislation in the line of duty.
Nova Scotia, Newfoundland/Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Ontario and Saskatchewan have already banned the use of hand-held cell phones while driving.