Distracted Driving

On Jan. 1, 2016 the provincial Distracted Driving Law came into effect with a penalty of $287 and 3 demerit points. If a motorist creates a serious collision while driving distracted, they can expect a $543 ticket, with 6 demerit points for careless driving. This law applies to all motor vehicles as defined by the Traffic Safety Act and restricts drivers from:

• using hand-held devices, such as cellphones and tablets
• texting or e-mailing (even when stopped at red lights)
• using electronic devices like laptop computers, video games, cameras, video entertainment displays and programming portable audio players (e.g., MP3 players)
• entering information on GPS units
• reading printed materials in the vehicle
• writing, printing or sketching
• personal grooming (brushing and flossing teeth, putting on makeup, curling hair, clipping nails or shaving)

In order to avoid distractions, Leduc Enforcement Services suggests motorists:

• focus on driving – and only driving
• put your phone out of reach when you drive
• make sure children are comfortable and buckled up before leaving
• know your itinerary before leaving and program the GPS before you leave
• don’t use a hand held electronic device for talking, texting or emailing
• not to comb your hair, shave or apply make-up