Distracted Driving Awareness
The Monthly Traffic Initiative for March is distracted driving.
Statistics show, distracted driving greatly increases the likelihood of a collision. When holding, and using a handheld device while driving, your eyes and attention are removed from the roadway, as you focus on another task.
In 2021, officers laid 10 charges related to distracted driving.
“Mobile devices such as phones, are most often the reason a driver becomes distracted,” says Traffic Sergeant Ray Magnan. “Make the safe decision, turn off the notifications on your device or place it out of site to eliminate the opportunity to become distracted while driving.”
If you must use your phone while driving, use a hands-free device, such as Bluetooth to allow you to turn your device on and off or use a device to mount your phone securely so it doesn’t move while you are driving.
If you are convicted of distracted driving, you could face severe fines and driving restrictions.
- First Conviction – up to $1,000 fine, three demerit points, and three-day licence suspension
- Second Conviction – up to $2,000 fine, six demerit points and seven-day licence suspension
- Third or more Conviction – up to $3,000 fine, six demerit points and 30-day licence suspension
Novice drivers will face longer licence suspensions upon conviction. A conviction of careless or dangerous driving could mean possible jail time.
Please make the right decision, put your phone down while driving, no text message is worth the possibility of injuring yourself or others while driving.
For more information, please visit www.ontario.ca/page/distracted-driving.