Ban On Hand-Held Devices Starts In October
McGuinty Government Making Ontario's Roads Safer
Ontario's ban on hand-held devices while driving will take effect on October 26, 2009.
The new law will make it illegal for drivers to talk, text, type, dial or email using hand-held cell phones and other hand-held communications and entertainment devices.
Following a three-month period that begins October 26, where the focus will be on educating drivers, police will start issuing tickets on February 1, 2010.
Studies show that a driver using a cell phone is four times more likely to be in a crash than a driver focused on the road. Other studies show that dialing and texting carries the highest degree of risk of all cell phone-related activities.Police, paramedics and firefighters will continue to be allowed to use hand-held devices when performing their duties. All drivers may use hand-held devices to call 9-1-1.
- Under Ontario's new law, fines of up to $500 can be levied against distracted drivers who text, type, email, dial, or chat using a prohibited hand-held device.
- Ontario joins more than 50 countries worldwide and a growing number of North American jurisdictions that have similar distracted driving legislation including Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, California and New York.
- Teens and young people under 35 are the most frequent users of cell phones while driving.
- Read more about Ontario's new road rules for the use of wireless communication and electronic entertainment devices while driving, including exemptions.
- Review key research on the effects of driving while distracted.
- Read scenarios that show how drivers can make a few simple changes to comply with the new law.
- Find out more about the Countering Distracted Driving and Promoting Green Transportation Act, 2009.
- Watch a video that shows how distractions affect your driving.
“It is not safe to be texting, e-mailing or dialing a phone when you are driving a vehicle. Now it is also illegal.”