Tough impaired driving laws proposed in Ontario
Posted March 18, 2014 10:17 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO (NEWS1130) – It’s a move that might make some think twice about picking up their cell phone while behind the wheel; Ontario’s transportation minister has proposed tough new legislation that will crack down on distracted driving.
The bill, if passed, would increase the fines for violators up to $1,000 and it would include three demerit points.
Ontario’s government has already garnered the support of the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA), the Insurance Bureau of Canada and Share the Road Cycling Coalition, to name a few.
Insurance Bureau of Canada’s Manager of Consumer Affairs in Ontario Pete Karageorgos believes if it becomes law, other provinces will certainly look to Ontario to see if it’s working and possibly might follow suit.
Karageorgos says adding demerit points can’t hurt.
“People are concerned about maintaining their good driving record. But at the end of the day for the insurance company, it’s the conviction,” he explains. “You don’t need the merits to have a driving conviction put on your record that would affect your premiums, so it might be a further wake up call for people to put down their cell phones.”
Some wonder if the move might be a bit premature.
The Canada Safety Council is watching the legislation carefully to see if it has any kind of impact, if passed and enforced.
Communications Media Program Coordinator Catherine Gaudreau admits the idea has merit. “But it’s not the ultimate solution, the ultimate solution is getting people to understand the risks and getting them to change their behaviour because of those risks.”
Gaudreau says there needs to be an educational campaign and an increase in traffic enforcement if we’re hoping to end distracted driving.
“Let’s wait and see what the effect on driver behaviour before we go and increase it more, perhaps there are other solutions that we should be looking at,” she wonders.
