Tough distracted driving legislation is long overdue, says one broker, and one need only look at the carnage caused by impaired driving to see the need to crack down on this behaviour.
“We waited too long to recognize the impact of impaired driving,” says Greg Shields, partner, financial services and executive liability at Mitchell Sandham Inc. in Toronto, Ont. “and it caused life-long misery to thousands of people that was avoidable.”
The ruling Ontario Liberals introduced the proposed bill on Tuesday – similar legislation that hadn’t survived the March budget and spring election call.
An estimated 45 per cent of drivers killed in the province had drugs or a combination of drugs and alcohol in their systems in 2011. Ontario is one of only three jurisdictions in the country that has no sanctions on drugged drivers.
The bill increases penalties for talking or texting on hand-held smart phones, with maximum fines of $1,000 and three demerit points — which will make Ontario the toughest province on drivers who choose to drive distracted.
Included in the legislation are requirements to have drivers wait until pedestrians have completed crossed a street that is designated a school or pedestrian crossing – something that Shields told
Insurance Business is also a serious problem.
“We have already waited too long to deal with this avoidable behavior,” says Shields. “Stand on sidewalk in a school zone and in 10 minutes you will have all the proof you need that drivers are not getting the message. I don't want my child or your child to be one of the next statics needed to make the community finally take action.”
To enforce the drugged driving, police officers who have reasonable grounds to suspect drug-impaired driving would be able to issue roadside drivers’ licence suspensions of three, seven, 30 and 90 days — in the same manner that is done for alcohol impaired drivers.
This would be a change from current policy of taking motorists to the police station for further evaluation if drugged driving is suspected.
