The ban on cell phones and other electronic devices while driving in Ontario is here.  Are you ready for it?

With the ban on handheld devices now in effect in the province as of Oct. 26, are drivers really prepared to face the consequences of breaking this new law?

Right now, if caught on a wireless device while driving, drivers may only get a warning from police officers.  However, that will change.





According to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, violators will face fines of up to $500 if caught using handheld devices such as GPS units, cell phones, Blackberries, iPhones or video games.  That already hefty fine is assuming no one gets hurt.  Should you cause an accident and are charged with endangering the life of another person, expect that fine to double to $1000 and be combined with six demerit points.

What Is The Point?

Obviously, the government is concerned about safety and the law was introduced to protect people from themselves.  With all of the advances in technology, the law has to keep up and ensure that public safety is a top priority.  Ontario’s Transportation Minister said drivers should focus on driving and that means keeping their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.

The Ministry of Transportation also quotes driver distraction to be the cause of 20 per cent of all motor vehicle collisions.  Using a cell phone or other handheld device makes drivers four times more likely to be involved in an accident.  Those statistics alone should be enough to cause drivers to put convenience aside and focus on their safety and the safety of others.

Ontario is not the first province to introduce a cell phone ban or hands-free driving.  They follow in the footsteps of Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia.  In the United States, California and New York are the only states to have a similar law.

Why Has It Taken So Long?

The law was first announced in 2008, but has taken over a year to take effect first because any new law takes time to have supporting regulations put into place and time to train the necessary professionals to enforce it.  In addition to that, people need time to adjust to it.  While it may seem simple to stop using cell phones and other electronic devices while driving, people naturally revert to bad habits no matter how many times they are told not to.  The idea is that time will slowly begin to change those bad habits into newer, safer ones.

Even with all of the advanced warning and discussion the electronic device ban has brought about, there will still be people who continue to talk on a phone or text while driving.  Those people may even be surprised when they receive a ticket.  Having been given so much notice may have had a reverse effect on people and actually lessened the impact that this new law will have.

What Can You Do About It?

What are the options for people who need to communicate while driving?  Some people have jobs that require them to drive long distances and stay connected to their workplace.  The answer is Bluetooth hands-free technology.  Most new vehicles come equipped with Bluetooth, but if you don’t have it, there are still a lot of options for you.  Every electronics store (Canadian Tire, Future Shop, Best Buy etc.) carries so many different brands that you can have your pick.  The prices are more than reasonable, even for the expensive brands.

Just Try It

If the thought of wearing an earpiece bothers you so much that you would rather not, consider pulling over to make your call or waiting until you arrive at your destination.  Pretty soon, you won’t have a choice as you risk the previously mentioned penalties if you are pulled over by the police.

Although different, it really isn’t a bad thing.  The same way you became used to talking on the phone with one hand and driving with the other, you will get used to talking on speakerphone or with a Bluetooth device and putting both hands on the wheel.  Besides, you will become a safer driver by paying more attention to the road and less to the wireless devices that endanger you every time you use them.

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