The Niagara Regional Police Service would like to remind motorists that effective October 26th 2009, it became illegal for Ontario drivers to use any handheld communication and entertainment devices.
Police have the ability to lay charges, where warranted, of Careless Driving or other offences under the Highway Traffic Act or Criminal Code driving offences for situations where drivers are using electronic devices. Distracted drivers are a safety risk to themselves and others. The Niagara Regional Police Service is committed to ensuring the safety of all motorists in Niagara.
When driving, you are not permitted to use hand-held communication and entertainment devices or view display screens unrelated to the driving task, with the following exceptions:
- Calling 9-1-1 in an emergency situation
- When the driver is lawfully parked or has safely pulled off the roadway and is not impeding traffic.
Distracted driving can lead to loss of demerit points, large fines, licence suspension, serious injury or death.
For Further Information:
- Distracted Driving 101
- Ministry of Transportation Newsroom: Ban on Hand-Held Devices Starts in October
- Legislative Assembly of Ontario: Bill 118, Countering Distracted Driving and Promoting Green Transportation Act, 2009
- Bill 118: An Act to amend the Highway Traffic Act to prohibit the use of devices with display screens and hand-held communication and entertainment devices and to amend the Public Vehicles Act with respect to car pool vehicles