Northumberland OPP are out in full force this weekend for their annual Thanksgiving long weekend traffic campaign which focuses on the “Big 4” – seatbelt compliance, distracted driving, speeding and impaired driving.
Police are encouraging all drivers to be vigilant, follow traffic laws, and drive responsibly not just this weekend but every time they hit the road.
They are also reminding us that Ontario’s distracted driving laws apply to the use of hand-held communication/entertainment devices and certain display screens.
While you are driving – and that includes when you are stopped in traffic or at a red light – it is illegal to:
- use a phone or other hand-held wireless communication device to text or dial – you can only touch a device to call 911 in an emergency
- use a hand-held electronic entertainment device, such as a tablet or portable gaming console
- view display screens unrelated to driving, such as watching a video program or a hand-held GPS device, except by voice commands.
You are allowed to use hands-free wireless communications devices with an earpiece, lapel button or Bluetooth. You can view GPS display screens as long as they are built into your vehicle’s dashboard or securely mounted on the dashboard.
For more information and penalties, visit: Distracted driving | ontario.ca
