Sep 20, 2017
By Jane Brown
Ontario’s Transportation Minister has announced plans to make this province the first in Canada to have a license suspension for those convicted of distracted driving.
At the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on Wednesday morning, Steven Del Duca outlined a series of tough new rules and penalties that he says will help improve road safety and keep the most vulnerable users, including pedestrians and cyclists, safe.
Repeat offender distracted drivers would face increased fines of between $500 and $1000, with an upper limit of up to $3000 and 6 demerit points.
“In addition we are proposing that convicted offenders also face escalating 3, 7 or 30 day license suspensions,” explained Del Duca at a news conference at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
Del Duca also confirmed the legislation would include an amendment to the Highway Traffic Act to create a new offense for careless driving causing death or bodily harm.
“Offenders would face fines of up to $50,000, imprisonment of up to 2 years, and a license suspension of up to 5 years,” stated Del Duca.
Over the past five years, more than 450 pedestrians and cyclists have been killed in motor vehicle collisions in Ontario’s five most populous cities and on roads patrolled by the OPP.
Older pedestrians and cyclists are more likely to die from their injuries.
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