Two new laws to drastically change driving habits in Ontario

News Releases
Ont. Government

Legislation to make the province’s roads safer by prohibiting the use of hand-held devices to talk, text or e-mail while driving, today received third reading in the legislature.
Drivers will be prohibited from using hand-held cell phones and other hand-held electronic entertainment or communications devices while driving.
The use of hands-free devices would be permitted.
Emergency calls, such as calls to 911, will not be affected.
Transport Canada estimates that driver distraction is a contributing factor in about 20 per cent of all collisions. Drivers who use cell phones are four times more likely to be in a crash.
Once supporting regulations are developed, the new law could be in effect as early as this fall.
“We want drivers to focus on the task of driving: driving safely must always be a driver’s primary task and responsibility: anything less is unacceptable. Eyes on the road, hands on the wheel - it is one of the basic tenets of safe driving,” said Transportation Minister Jim Bradley
(http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/about/minister.shtml).
Once the new law is in place, drivers who text, type, email, dial, or chat using a prohibited hand-held device could be fined up to $500.
Ontario will join more than 50 countries worldwide that already have similar laws in place, and a growing number of North American jurisdictions such as Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, California and New York.

Stiffer Impaired Driving rules
“I’ll just have one or two drinks – I’ll be alright” In the past this comment may have been commonly used. Drivers who had been drinking and registered a warning on the roadside tests would receive a 12 hour suspension of their driving privileges. They would 12 hours later attend the detachment and pick up their license.
As of 01 May 2009 the rules in Ontario have changed escalating sanctions on those who are not impaired but register a “WARNING” (over .05 - .08 BAC). The new regulations authorize police to immediately seize the driver’s license and register the suspension with the Ministry of Transportation.
The duration of the suspension is 3 days for the first incident, 7 days for the second incident, and 30 days for the third and any subsequent incident within a 5 year period.
Drivers are reminded that failure to provide samples into the approved screening device will result in you being arrested and charged with the Criminal Code offence of “Failing to provide a sample”; you will also receive an immediate 90 day suspension of your licence.
In addition to the suspensions sanctions by the MTO may also be administered