Distracted driving

By the end of this topic you can

• You can set up your phone, music and navigation before you start driving.
• You can explain which devices your licence stage allows, if any.
• You can describe the penalties for a phone offence in your province.
• You can recognize other kinds of distraction and avoid them.
• You can handle an urgent call or message safely by pulling over.

What you need to know and understand

• Holding a phone while driving is banned for all drivers in every province, Yukon and the NWT, and Ontario, Alberta and Quebec spell out that this includes being stopped at a red light.
• BC learner and novice drivers, Saskatchewan GDL drivers and Yukon learner and novice drivers may not use phones at all, not even hands-free.
• Ontario G1 and G2 drivers convicted of distracted driving get a 30-day suspension for a first conviction, 90 days for a second and cancellation for a third.
• Ontario's fine is $615 if settled out of court and up to $1,000 if a court decides, for a first offence.
• BC's device ticket is $368 and 4 penalty points.
• Quebec gives 5 demerit points, more than the 4-point limit for a learner or probationary licence.
• Calling 9-1-1 in an emergency is allowed, but pull over first if you can do it safely.

What one phone ticket costs a new driver

Fines are often the same for every driver, but the licence consequences are much harsher in a graduated program. Some examples from provincial rules:

• Ontario G2: $615, a 30-day suspension, a reinstatement fee and likely higher insurance.
• Quebec probationary: 5 points goes past the 4-point limit, so the licence is revoked.
• British Columbia N: $368 and 4 points, a likely review of your record, and the conviction stops you passing the Driving Record Assessment for your full licence.
• Alberta GDL: $390 and 3 demerit points out of your 8-point limit.
• Manitoba: a roadside licence suspension of 3 days for a first offence, plus a drop on the Driver Safety Rating scale.

Which devices can a new driver use?

Check your own stage carefully, because the rules range from a total ban to limited hands-free use. In BC, Saskatchewan and Yukon, learners and novices cannot use any device, so plan the route before you leave and let a passenger navigate. In Ontario, novice drivers follow the general rule: hands-free use is allowed, but the phone should be mounted and touched only to turn a call on or off, and GPS should be set before you leave or used by voice. In Alberta, a GPS display is allowed if it is fixed to the vehicle and set before you start, or voice-activated.

A distraction-free routine

Alberta's law also covers reading, writing, grooming and entering information on a GPS while driving. In Ontario, eating is not a distracted driving offence, but you can still be charged with careless driving if it puts others at risk.

1. Set your destination and music before you put the car in gear.
2. Mount the phone where it does not block your view, or put it out of reach if your licence bans all devices.
3. Turn on a driving focus or do-not-disturb mode.
4. If something needs your attention, find a safe, legal place to park before touching the phone.
5. Eat, groom and sort out passengers before you set off, not while moving.

Common mistakes

• Checking a message at a red light. You are still driving, and the ban applies while stopped in traffic.
• Assuming hands-free is allowed for everyone. BC, Saskatchewan and Yukon ban it for new drivers.
• Holding the phone without using it. In Ontario simply holding a device while driving is prohibited.
• Typing an address into the GPS while moving. Set it before you leave or use voice commands where allowed.
• Thinking the fine is the only penalty. For new drivers, suspensions and lost GDL progress are often worse.

Test yourself: Distracted driving

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Distracted driving penalties across Canada for new drivers