Distracted Driving is the #1 Killer on the Road Today
Close to 10,000 drivers have been charged with distracted driving offenses, leading to 31 distracted driving related collision deaths in Ontario this year alone, according to the OPP.
It is these statistics, in addition numerous studies proving the dangers of distracted driving that has led the Ontario government to re-introduce a bill to increase distracted driving fines – and the bill could be in place as soon as this fall.
If the new law is passed, we could see a significant increase in the fines and penalties for distracted driving offenses. It is expected that distracted driving fines will increase from its current level $280 fine and no demerit points to a maximum fine of up to $1000, and three demerit points.
Transportation Minister Glen Murray said “This legislation would keep people who use our roads safer — drivers, cyclists and pedestrians alike. This is an all-party bill and I hope it will quickly gain the confidence of this house.”
The new bill would also make distracted driving fines the highest in the country – an act that most Ontarians are happy to see. We all know distracted driving is a societal issue and hopefully this increase in fines will help to deter drivers from driving while distracted.
Distracted Driving Is a Canada Wide Issue
Distracted driving is not only an issue in Ontario, it’s a national issue in Canada and the facts certainly back this up. The problem is not isolated to a specific province or region of the country and it is not tied to a specific type of driver. Drivers of all ages, genders, experience, and skill levels are guilty of distracted driving.
This is why we have seen each province take action in recent years to enact laws that are meant to help deter distracted driving and make our roads safer.
Distracted Driving Causes More Deaths per Year Than Impaired Driving
In 2013, distracted driving surpassed impaired driving and speeding as the number one cause of deaths on Canadian roads. In fact, distracted driving was a factor in 78 deaths in 2013 alone and is a factor in more than 80% of driving related fatalities.
Distracted Driving Convictions in Canada
In 2013 alone, there were close to 200,000 distracted driving convictions in Canada- and this is only the number of drivers who were caught. If we go further in breaking down this number, this means that about 550 are convicted daily. It’s clear that this is a major issue.
Taking a look at the provincial numbers, Ontario has the most convictions (63, 815) and BC (48,000) and Quebec (47,000) are not too far behind. The least number of convictions occurred in Yukon (84) and PEI (257). From this data, it appears that the number of convictions is loosely correlated to the population of each province.
Provincial Fines and Demerit Points for Distracted Driving
Here are the highlights of the penalties drivers are currently facing when they are caught driving while distracted:
- Newfoundland and Labrador was the first province to enact distracted driving fines. They first came into effect in 2003, a full 5 years before any other province in the country
- Nunavut is the sole region in Canada that does not outlaw distracted driving
- The lowest fines are in Northwest Territories at $100
- The highest fines are in PEI and Newfoundland where distracted driving fines run up to $400
- 4 provinces do not assign demerit points with distracted driving fines
- Saskatchewan and Newfoundland assign the most demerit points with distracted drivers loosing 4 points
To see the complete breakdown of fines, demerit points by provinces, see the infographic below:
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