Real Estate Blog - Hang Up And Drive

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Hang Up And Drive - Or Else !

It's coming and you better be prepared. Effective October 26,2009 the Province of Ontario's distracted-driving law comes into effect. Ontario's drivers will have a grace period until Feb. 1, 2010 to acquire a hands-free device for their cellphones, Blackberries, etc. Hang Up And Drive

Police will issue fines after that point up to $500 with no demerit points. Using earbuds, adjusting GPS units and iPods are also a no-no while behind the wheel. Exemptions include driver placed 911 calls, emergency service vehicles, truckers and other commercial drivers. A 3 year grace period has been offered to truckers to replace CB radios with new technology.

The new legislation also specifically refers to DVD's and Laptops, which I concur are very scary distraction for a driver. According to a 2009 study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, drivers who dial and text behind the wheel have nearly three times the risk of being in a crash.

Jenny Kotulak Broker - RE/MAX Aboutowne Realty Corp. Brokerage, Oakville, Ontario 905-842-7000

www.oakvilleontariorealestate.ca

Posted by Jenny Kotulak Oakville Real Estate on 10/03/2009 10:47 PM

Comments (18)

distracted driver legislation, hang up and drive, texting and car crashes, hands free cellphones, jenny kotulak broker

Originally posted at: Oakville Ontario - Real Estate - Real Life: Hang Up And Drive - Or Else !

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18 Comments on Hang Up And Drive - Or Else !

OCT

I am totally with you sister! I think that we have pretty good drivers in my city, but you can't do 3 things at once for very long!

Hi Ella,

I'm sure we are going to see this type of law come into effect all over Canada and the U.S. due to the number of accidents. Texting seems to be the big culprit. I must admit I am guilty of texting in the car but only at red lights. Bad habit I must break.

Jenny - I have not yet heard whether using the speaker phone feature on Blackberries and other devices will be allowed. Have you seen anything?

Hi Marc,

I think as long as long as you don't have the phone to your ear it's ok to have it on speaker phone. My new car has Onstar so there is a phone on that plus it has bluetooth so I've connected my Blackberry to it but haven't tried it hands free yet. I like the Onstar phone.

Jenny - I just saw your photo of your new car on your other post. Looks very nice. Glad to see that you have been supporting the North American OEMs for years. Not sure if your 2010 model uses parts from the same suppliers as the 2009 model, but the 2009 model includes a floor console and instrument cluster which is made by a company where I know a lot of people.

Well I say congratulations to your province - unfortunately we're a little bit behind you on this (way behind)~

OCT

It's ironic - I agree with the regulation of not texting and driving but then I'm guilty of it!

Hi Jenny... I think talking without a handsfree device or texting under any circumstances should be illegal. Period. If it saves one single life, it will be worth the sacrifices that have to be made.

Good to see Ontario taking steps to improve safety on their roads. Nevada has yet to pass any legislation, but I'm sure this will be revisited in the 2011 session.

Hi Jenny - I dislike too much government control, but this law makes sense. I can't believe the multi-tasking taking place on our roadways. BTW...I responded to your comment on my LAKE PEND OREILLE post and added a map for you.

Safety is more important than a phone call -- get hand free or wait till one stops to talk.

Jenny,

It's about time! I am totally against driving and talking on a phone.

This will be a lot like the seat belt laws. It was always a good idea, but now it will be the law.

Before the seat belt law here (which I supported) I never wore one. On the day the law took effect I started buckling up and now would/will not be caught dead without one.

I support this new kind of law - also coming here soon. It will force me to get in and do what I should have been doing already.

Me...and everybody else.

This is a very good law. I actually witnessed a low speed rear end collision caused by a fellow who was text messaging.

This is really long overdue.

I still can't believe there are people using laptops while driving... texting is bad enough, but what would you seriously do with a computer?? Now my question is how does this get enforced? I have seen so many people driving with phones to their ears and not paying any attention to the road... and I only saw them because I was behind or next to them. Will the police be staring into cars, or what?

OCT

Uh oh. I better tell my hubby about this. He crosses in to Ontario often for work.

OCT

My husband has bluetooth in his car but you can hardly hear him when he calls. He's going to have to take it in and see if they can fix the mike. So folks try out those hand free sets before you rely on them.

OCT

I think it is truly getting frightening out on the road, especially when you see a woman in a Cadillac Escalade with six children in the vehicle and she's obviously driving with her knees because the sun visor is down and she's putting on makeup and eye shadow while holding her cell phone between her neck and shoulder and with a Starbucks drink in one hand. I didn't stay near her very long.

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