A tougher stance on distracted driving drove one broker to ask if society was in essence trying to kill a fly with a sledgehammer.
In the article ‘
Make distracted driving a criminal offence,’ Shawn M. wrote that those guilty of distracted driving shouldn’t be penalized the same as impaired drivers.
“This is overkill,” he wrote. “A criminal charge for changing your radio station and having that on your record? It is not the same as impaired.”
Domenic Guida, president of Signature Insurance Brokers in Woodbridge, Ont., told Insurance Business that he was frustrated by the constant reference to demerit points “as some panacea for the problem of distracted driving.
“Demerit points will not change anything,” he said. “The ticket is always there; they just have to make it minor, major or criminal.”
The Ontario government recently introduced legislation that would raise fines to as much as $1,000 for distracted driving, along with three demerit points.
Another broker, Sarah P., felt that a heavy hand should be applied to distracted drivers. (continued.)
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“I absolutely agree! I see several drivers texting and/or talking on their cell phones on a daily basis,” she commented. “It should be regarded the same as impaired. At the least, it should be a major conviction and the device confiscated for a minimum of seven days for the first time, and indefinitely if caught again.”
Since 2008, every province and territory in Canada with the exception of Nunavut has created laws to deal with cellphone users.
