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Distracted drivers may face fines, demerit points, and insurance repercussions. In Ontario, getting a ticket for distracted driving will impact your car insurance rate for at least three years.
According to Woodstock Police Service, driver distraction is a contributing factor to 80% of collisions and 65% of near-crashes. With Ontario’s distracted driving laws, limiting distractions on the road for safety and keeping your rates low is crucial. If you are caught driving distracted, you can expect an increase in your monthly payments.
A distracted driving conviction can significantly impact your car insurance. In addition to fines and demerit points, you may need to get high-risk auto insurance. Getting a distracted driving ticket can also lead to:
If caught driving while distracted, you will face fines and have demerit points on your driving record. Starting in 2019, you will also face a licence suspension.
On a Tuesday afternoon in Toronto, Sarah, a 28-year-old graphic designer, was driving home from work. While navigating through the traffic, her phone started buzzing with notifications from her group chat. Tempted to check the messages, Sarah picked up her phone from the passenger seat, and for a moment, she took her eyes off the road.
Unbeknownst to Sarah, a police officer stationed at a nearby intersection noticed her actions. With a keen eye for distracted driving behaviours, the officer immediately pulled Sarah over. The officer approached her car and issued her a ticket for distracted driving under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act.
In the following weeks, Sarah received a renewal notice from her insurer. Due to her distracted driving charge, her Toronto car insurance premium increased from $120 to $200 a month.
Distracted driving tickets come with three demerit points. Under the new laws in Ontario, you could receive up to 6 demerit points for multiple convictions within 5 years. So, additional distracted driving tickets can have a compound impact on your driving.
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Choose safety over urgency. You can make roads safer in the province by refraining from texting and driving, never driving impaired, and focusing on the road. Practicing defensive driving can make a significant difference in road safety and insurance payments.
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Digital Content Writer
Kayla-Jane has been a content writer with ThinkInsure since 2020. She creates insurance content for auto, home, and commercial. Kayla-Jane has a diploma in Journalism.
| Categories | Auto |
|---|---|
| Tags | Driving TipsAuto Coverage |
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