An Ontario court has hiked the set fine for motorists caught driving while using a cellphone or other prohibited device – but what is really need are demerit points and stepped-up enforcement to curb distracted driving, says one association president.
“The occasional big penalty isn’t going to do it,” says John Taylor, president of the Ontario Mutual Insurance Association. “But that is the thing with behaviour modification – it takes time. There needs to be a constant vigilance, like you see with RIDE programs and seatbelts. That seems to drive the point home.”
Chief Justice Annemarie Bonkalo of the Ontario Court of Justice signed the order increasing the set fine to $225 from $125 starting March 18 – which means drivers would face a fine of $280, including surcharges.
Whether the increased fines will work is yet to be seen, Taylor told Insurance Business.
“I’m hopeful it will change, but I think it is like seatbelts and will take a period of time,” he says. “Adding demerit points is fine – I don’t have a problem with overkill in stopping distracted driving.”
Transportation Minister Glen Murray welcomed the move to higher fines, saying it could help deter drivers from using their cellphones – but he wouldn't say if the government will consider using demerit points as a penalty for distracted drivers. (continued.)
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“The fines will be one thing,” says Taylor, “If they do something with demerit points, it eventually begins to move over into driving records and insurance the insurance rating, it would probably see a change too.”
Those who endanger others because of any distraction could also be charged with careless driving and receive six demerit points and fines up to $2,000. There are other penalties, including six months in jail, licence suspension for up to two years and criminal charges.
What is also needed to curb distracted driving is to assign social stigma to those who continue to text and drive, says Taylor.
“Thinking back to the resistance there was to when seatbelts were made mandatory; it’s been a couple of generations since then. If people don’t wear seatbelts, you look at them as though they were from outer space,” he says. “I would love to think we are at the point of where if you see someone sitting there behind the wheel, looking at their phone, they would feel embarrassed and stop.”
Although the introduction of hands free devices into vehicles are designed to avoid distracted driving, that same technology may also be contributing to problems on the road. (continued.)
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“The problem is the technology is being built so closely into the cars, where do you draw the line on distracted driving?” asks Taylor. “There are indications out there that even using hands free devices can be problematic.
“It blows my mind when I see people, out of habit – driving along or waiting at a set of lights – looking at their phone,” he says. “It is unacceptable.”
