Toronto police to launch new distracted driving campaign on January 14th

Toronto law to launch new distracted driving entrada on Jan 14th

The entrada follows the contempo enactment of stricter penalties for distracted driving

distracted driving

Toronto Constabulary Service volition launch a new distracted driving campaign on Jan 14th.

During this fourth dimension, TPS officers will bulldoze unmarked vehicles and ride on TTC vehicles in order to spot distracted drivers.

During the @TorontoPolice #DistractedDriving Campaign starting on Jan xiv Officers will be driving unmarked vehicles and riding on @TTChelps vehicles to spot drivers on the phone ^bm #LeaveThePhoneAlone pic.twitter.com/6ukZOwNiia

— TPS Traffic Services (@TrafficServices) January 9, 2019

The province enacted stricter penalties for distracted driving on January 1st. Now, those institute using an electronic device while backside the bicycle tin confront charges of $ane,000, as well as a 3-solar day license suspension and three demerit points. Last twelvemonth, distracted drivers were charged $490 and given three demerit points with no license suspension.

A second offence can result in a $2,000 fine, vii-day license suspension and six demerit points, while a third infraction could mean a fine of upwards to $3,000 and a 30-day license pause.

Although police will only charge drivers who are using a handheld device, the Regime of Ontario defines distracted driving as any action that takes a commuter'due south attention abroad from the route. In add-on to cell phone use, distracted driving can also include such activities as eating, reading, typing a destination into a GPS and switching between music playlists, says the province.

Drivers can miss as much every bit 50 percent of their environment when they're non focused on the road, according to Canada's Traffic Injury Research Foundation.