Distracted driving grace period ends this month
Posted Feb 5, 2010 By Rosalyn Stevens
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EMC Lifestyle Editor's Note: This article marks the continuation of a crime prevention series, in your community newspaper. Each month, the EMC's Rosalyn Stevens will meet with Bayshore community police officer Const. Maria Keen to discuss important crime prevention tips and community safety notes. Watch for a new article in the EMC each month. 
Rosalyn Stevens, Ottawa West EMC
Bayshore community police officer Const. Maria Keen says drivers should be aware that officers will begin laying charges in all incidents where drivers are found to be distracted while in control of the vehicle.
Though the law came into effect last fall, Const. Maria Keen wants to remind residents that the province's new distracted driving law has reached the end of its grace period, and officers will now be issuing tickets for the offence.
The law targets the use of hand-held electronic devices, such as cellphones, Blackberries and music players, but also targets a wide range of distracting behaviour that can take a driver's attention away from the road.
"It's not just about the cellphones," the Bayshore community police officer said, "but that's obviously what prompted the law to come in."
In combination with the current careless driving offence, police will be able to apply distracted driving charges to drivers caught eating, applying make-up, or conducting other activities that take their attention away from the road. That includes having emotional conversations or attending to children in the backseat while driving.
"It's a perfect name for the law," Const. Keen said. "Distracted driver."
She said drivers have become accustomed to doing much more than paying attention to the road, but added that distractions account for a number of accidents and can make the road unsafe.
"People forget that a vehicle ... is a huge piece of machinery that needs your full, complete attention," she said.
Between 2006 and 2008, driver distraction was a significant factor in 5,490 traffic accidents, with 1,938 injuries and eight deaths as a result.
Just like laws against impaired driving, Const. Keen said it will take some time for drivers to take the new regulations seriously. But, she added, the similarities between distracted driving and impaired driving are alarmingly high.
"Just like anything else, I don't think people will understand the seriousness until they get the citation," she said.
Fines for distracted driving involving a hand-held device is about $125, plus three demerit points, she said. A charge of careless driving brings a fine of $365 and six demerit points.
Const. Keen said she's had many questions about the new law and will continue to offer explanations, in combination with officers in the traffic unit.
As far as enforcement, Const. Keen said there are telltale signs someone is driving distracted aside from the obvious sight of a driver holding a phone.
"Here's the irony about it all, it's a lot of the same driving conditions as impaired (driving)," she said, adding that officers would notice a vehicle driving slowly, weaving in a lane, and not accelerating in time with the change of traffic signals to a green light.
If an officer sees those driving conditions, she said they would pull the vehicle over for careless driving. What happens next is up to the officer's discretion.
"It's obviously up to the officer whether they're going to use careless or distracted driver (laws)," she said.
All in all, Const. Keen said the roadways should be safer with the implementation of this new law. With many statistics to back up its creation, she said it's appropriate for today's society.
"I think in this day and age, when everybody has a hand-held device, it's about time."
For more information about the new law, or any of the crime prevention programs offered by the community police centre, contact the Bayshore office at 613-236-1222 ext. 2345.
