Canada’s insurers are demanding the federal government take a more stringent stance against distracted driving, but officials have admitted that stricter driving laws are currently not a top priority and reasoned that the provinces have it all sorted out.
At present, each province approaches the problem of distracted driving differently. According to data collected by
Globalnews.ca, fines for motorists charged with distracted driving in Quebec can range from $80-$100, with four demerit points added to their driver’s licenses. In comparison, drivers who violate the distracted driving rules in Prince Edward Island face fines between $500 and $1,200, and receive five demerit points.
Insurers, however, feel that these penalties are not enough to discourage distracted driving habits.
Allstate Canada CEO Ryan Michel said in a recent interview that distracted driving accidents are increasing despite programs designed to reward law-abiding motorists.
“We’ve seen in our own experience a lot more rear-end collisions,” Michel said. “Where is that coming from, right?”
“We here at Allstate would definitely support tougher actions that make people safer on the roads, absolutely, in countering distracted driving,” Michel expounded. “We know there are fines that are out there, but it doesn’t seem to be fully taking hold, otherwise we’d see some of these things change.”
“We now have every province with bans from using handheld devices while driving,” said Pete Karageorgos, Director, Consumer & Industry Relations,
Insurance Bureau of Canada. “So the question is: are they tough enough? Are they getting the message across? It’s the government that has to measure that and take the lead because they are the ones who have the authority.”
Justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould, however, admitted that amending the laws is currently not a priority, nor is it in the foreseeable future.
“In the criminal code, there are provisions for distracted driving that could manifest itself for texting and driving,” she told
Globalnews.ca. “But the provinces have taken a leadership role on this issue.”
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