Day in and day out you can find an article on the internet, read an article in the news paper, hear a story on the radio or see the visuals on the TV about distracted driving.
Police, government, safety associations and advocates all scream and rant and rave about the dangers of distracted driving. Yet, more than the media and citizen journalists write and talk about it, people do it.
Drive down the road or stand on a street corner and just watch the people talking, texting, reading and doing all sorts of crazy things while they are “driving”.
All the while, there are laws across North America that ban such activities. Why are people willing to sacrifice safety and ignore the laws in place here in Ontario? Simple…No fear of penalty.
In Ontario, this is $155…if you don’t kill or injure.
Consequences need to fit the breech.
- If a child misses a curfew…grounding.
- When a construction crew misses a deadline…financial penalty.
- Governments misappropriate tax dollars…re-election (ignore that)
- Endanger people’s lives en masse…$155
Seriously? $155. Talk to many people in business like real estate or sales and a ticket for $155 bucks is nothing but a cost of doing business.
No wonder so many people ignore it. What if there was a REAL consequence for the action…
- $155 and 2 demerit points (first offence)
- $155 and 3 day licence suspension (second offence)
- No set fine, 7 day licence suspension and 7 day impound on the car (third and subsequent offences)
- AND…7 day device seizure for all offences
I’d be willing to bet then we would see a difference. Then people might actually take the law seriously.
Agree? Disagree? Let me know what you think. Share the post if you agree or disagree. Let’s get people talking about real change for road safety.
Sign the petition to get our government thinking.
#ChangeDWDpenaltyONT
Tim – You have an Ottawa man in total agreement and advocating for exactly what you propose:
“Ottawa Man wants distracted Ontario drivers to get demerit points” http://t.co/klcQkkEg61 “I think it’ll make a difference.”
Thanks for sharing that Tim. I like him!
agree…..I think the only way people will stop this behavior is if the cars MUST have an installed device that disables the phone when the motor is running!
There have been a number of lives lost as a result of drivers using cell to ear or texting, not only in Ontario, but in the rest of Canada.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure this one out Mr./Ms. MPP. If you want to save the lives of your constituents, introduce amendments to the existing legislation to have the fine tripled, have 2-3 demerit points taken off the driver’s licence (the insurance company WILL find out eventually) and have the fine doubled on the second and subsequent offences.
It didn’t take long to have the fine and demerit points increased for passing a stopped school bus with the red lights flashing to have most drivers stop for the bus. (still some morons not stopping, but not as many as in the past).
My question to the Liberals of Ontario. What is taking you so long to do something about the problem when you know it is a very serious one? Maybe when the next political party gets in to power, they will do something about it. Maybe?
Just my humble opinion.
Great onput…thanks so much!
Increase points for passing school buses;
Points for seatbelts…both worked for greater comliance.