Details Behind Ontario’s Driving Laws

By: Gemma Gadher, FW Writer

There has been a lot of buzz lately around safe driving and new laws that have been put in place to try and make our roads a safer place. The two that are most frequently asked about include the more strict regulations around drinking and driving, as well as everyone’s new favourite- the cell phone ban. Here, we give you the quick and dirty facts about each law so that you can avoid the whole “Oh officer Hanson? OH Hahah, sorry I thought it said Officer Handsome!” -song and dance.

Stiffer Sanctions For Impaired Drivers

1. Have your driver’s license suspended for three days the first time you are caught

2. Have your driver’s license suspended for seven days and have to attend an alcohol education program the second time you are caught

3. Have your driver’s license suspended for 30 days, complete a remedial alcohol treatment program and have an ignition interlock condition placed on your driver’s license for six months.

Previously, drivers only received a 12-hour driver’s license suspension, no matter how many times they were caught.

You don’t need to have a 0.08 blood alcohol concentration to be impaired. Statistics show that drivers whose blood alcohol concentration is from 0.05 to 0.08 are about seven times more likely to be involved in a fatal collision than someone who has not been drinking.

In 2005, one of every six fatally injured drinking drivers had a blood alcohol concentration of less than 0.08.

Quick Facts About Impaired Driving

As of October 26, 2009, Ontario’s new distracted driving law made it illegal for motorists to use hand-held wireless communication devices or any hand-held electronic entertainment devices while driving. This includes hand-held cell phones, texting and e-mailing. Hands-free devices are still permitted. This new law also prohibits viewing a display screen unrelated to the driving task such as laptops or DVD players while driving.

Ontario has toughened its impaired driving laws to drive home the message that drinking and driving is not acceptable under any circumstances. As of May 1, 2009, if you are found to have a blood alcohol concentration from 0.05 to 0.08 (the “warn range”) while driving you will:

1. A cell phone with an earpiece or headset using voice dialing, or plugged into the vehicle’s sound system

2. A global positioning system (GPS) device that is properly secured to the dashboard or another accessible place in the vehicle

3. A portable audio player that has been plugged into the vehicle’s sound system. Some wireless devices require that users push a button to activate and/or deactivate the device’s “hands-free” function. This activity is permitted under the law.

HAND-HELD DEVICES

Drivers will not be permitted to use hand-held communication and entertainment devices when driving, with the following exceptions:

Handheld Wireless and Entetainmen Device

HANDS-FREE DEVICES

The new law applies only to hand-held wireless communications and hand-held electronic entertainment devices. This means drivers must only use wireless devices that can be used in a “hands-free” maner

1. Calling 9-1-1 in an emergency situation

2. When the driver has safely pulled off the roadway and is stationary or is lawfully parked.