How Distracted Driving Affects Your Insurance Rate

It’s happened to almost all of us. We’re safely driving along, eyes on the road, when we hear a text come in on our cellphone. It’s right there in the drink holder, and it’s an internal struggle to keep our hands on the wheel.

Although the temptation to check our phones is high, the risks of doing so are significantly higher.

In 2016, the OPP investigated 65 traffic fatalities that were the result of distracted driving. That’s more than alcohol, speed, or seatbelt-related fatalities for the fourth year in a row.

Just think – 65 lives could’ve been saved if someone had kept off their handheld device while operating their car. This is why provinces such as Ontario have distracted driving laws.

Distracted Driving Laws in Ontario

In Ontario, it is against the law to use any handheld communication or entertainment device, such as a cellphone, iPod, or e-reader, while driving. In fact, it’s illegal to even hold these devices in your hand while driving, sitting at a red light, or anywhere else that isn’t a legal parking space.

However, if your device is mounted and secure, i.e. out of your hands and not moving around, you are allowed to use it.

Although you won’t get charged with distracted driving for having food, coffee, or a newspaper in your hand while driving, doing so is still unsafe and can lead to a collision.

If you endanger the public because your attention isn’t fully on the road, you could be charged with careless driving or dangerous driving, both of which carry heavier penalties, including the possibility of jail time.

Penalties for Distracted Driving

Drivers in Ontario can face stiff penalties for distracted driving, depending on what kind of license they hold:

Drivers with A – G licenses: The fine for drivers with A – G licenses is $490 and three demerit points. If you receive a summons or fight the ticket in court and lose, the monetary fine could go as high as $1,000.

Novice drivers: The fines are the same as with drivers with A – G licenses, but instead of losing demerits your face:

• a 30-day license suspension for a first conviction
• a 90-day license suspension for a second conviction
• cancellation of your license and expulsion from the Graduated Licensing System for a third conviction, after which you have to start the program over again to get your license back

What is the Impact on My Insurance Premium?

A very effective incentive for leaving the handheld device alone while driving is the threat of a significant increase in your insurance premiums.

Currently, Ontario law considers “using a hand-held wireless communications device” a minor traffic offense. At most, a first offender would lose their 15% conviction-free discount.

However, if you are convicted of careless driving or dangerous driving, you would be subject to a 100% insurance surcharge. Also, you would be considered a “high-risk” driver and no longer qualify for regular insurance markets. Instead, you would be placed with a sub-standard market or the Facility Association. This means higher rates for the next several years before you can return to the regular market, providing you keep a clean driving record during that period.

How to Prevent Distracted Driving

If picking up your phone is just too much a habit to stop even while driving, here are some tips that help you avoid the temptation and penalties that come with a distracted driving ticket:

• Turn off your phone, or put it and all notifications on silent mode before turning on the car
• Put your cellphone in the glove box or in your purse or bag well out of reach
• Ask a passenger to answer your phone or read and respond to a text for you
• If you must take the call or read and respond to a text, and cannot do it hands-free, find a parking spot and turn off your car first
• In an emergency, pull to the side of the road to call 911

Fighting temptation might be hard, but when road safety and lives are at risk, it’s well worth the effort.

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