In Canada, every 6 minutes there is an accident caused by distracted driving. This statistic was produced by RSA Canada.
On January 1, 2019, Canada amended stricter distracted driving laws. Distracted driving is not just about texting while driving. It is eating while driving, glancing at your phone for directions, digging in your bag for a pen; it is classified as anything you do while you are behind the wheel that takes your eyes off of the road and your hands off of the wheel. According to Ontario.ca, “a driver using a phone is four times more likely to crash than a driver focusing on the road.”
While you are driving, perhaps you hear your phone ring from a text message. There is an urgency to see who sent you a message and maybe you quickly glance down to see who it is. The one or two seconds that you take your eyes off of the road is all it takes for a tragic and avoidable accident to happen. The safest way to drive is to reduce all distractions, including putting your cell phone on silent, so that the urge to check the phone is diminished.
If you are convicted of distracted driving that results in a motor vehicle accident, insurance companies will classify this as a major offence just like careless driving and driving under the influence.
What does this mean for your auto insurance? It is likely that your insurance company will not renew your policy and you will be forced to obtain a quote from the high-risk marketplace. You will face a substantial increase in your policy rate and you will be stagnant with your insuring choices, forcing you to pay the hefty policy rate.
Today, we place urgency around communication which has resulted in distracted driving turning into an epidemic. Luckily, this is an epidemic we can end together. Roughley Insurance Brokers challenges you to turn your phone on silent as soon as you enter your car to drive.
For a complete list of what is classified as distracted driving and the penalties, visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/distracted-driving
There are potential rewards with your auto insurance policy if you have a clean driving record! As an insurance broker, we have choices for you and your unique insurance needs. We are continuously striving to find you the right coverage at the right price. For us to do our very best, we need your help!
We are legally unable to look at your personal information through your insurance policy until you contact us to do so. Dependent upon your driving record, a phone call to our insurance specialists could save you money. Call us today to discuss your insurance policy and your upcoming renewal.