Nova Scotians who use a hand-held device while driving will face increased fines and receive demerit points on their licence come February 1 – taking a cue from brokers to toughen the laws on distracted driving.
"We take road safety seriously and distracted driving has become a very big issue in our province - as serious as impaired driving," said Geoff MacLellan, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. "The bigger fines and addition of demerit points are an added incentive to put away your hand-held device while behind the wheel. We hope greater consequences will help influence driver behaviour."
The new rules mean each time someone is convicted of using a hand-held electronic device while driving, they will receive four demerit points on their licence. There are exemptions for using a cellphone to report an emergency.
New drivers still in the graduated driver's licensing program have fewer allowable points to lose, which means they could lose their licence more quickly if convicted. For people still in the learner phase it would take just one instance of getting caught using a hand-held device while driving to lose their licence.
Fully licensed drivers lose their licence for six months once they reach 10 points.
Fine amounts will increase as follows:
- first offence, fines increase from $176.45 to $233.95
- second offence, fines increase from $233.95 to $348.95
- third offence, fines increase from $348.95 to $578.95
In Ontario, a province that recently increased the penalties on distracted driving, drivers can face fines of up to $1,000 and three demerit points.
"Texting and driving is a lethal combination, however this message is still not resonating with some drivers," said Insp. Bernadine Chapman, officer in charge of RCMP traffic services and member of the provincial Road Safety Advisory Committee. "As police, we see the devastating consequences of distracted driving and welcome anything that might deter someone from texting while behind the wheel. So please put your phones away when driving. It's just not worth it."
All provinces and territories, except for Nunavut, ban drivers from using cellphones while driving, according to the Canadian Automobile Association. Fines range from $100 to $400. Six provinces and two territories also include demerit points among the penalties.
