The Law
It’s against the law to use hand-held communication (e.g. your phone) and electronic entertainment devices (e.g. DVD player, e-reader) while driving.
You can use:
- a hands-free device (e.g. Bluetooth) but only to turn it on and off
- a mounted device (e.g. phone, GPS) as long as it is secure – not moving around while driving
If convicted, the penalty you face depends on the kind of licence you hold and how long you’ve been driving. Penalties include licence suspension and loss of demerit points. First-time fines are $615.00 to $1,000.00.
Buckle Up. Phone Down. Slow Down.
Distracted driving is anything that takes the driver’s attention away from focusing on the road.
Types of distraction include:
- Visual (taking your eyes off the road)
- Manual (taking your hands off the wheel)
- Cognitive (taking your mind off the driving task)
- Internal (coming from within the vehicle, such as children crying, pets, etc.)
- External (coming from outside the vehicle, such as other vehicles, congested streets, etc.)
