Rotondo Law Firm Weighs in on Increase in Distracted Driving Fines as Study Shows Distracted Driving No. 1 Cause of Fatalities on Ontario Roads
Toronto, Canada (PRWEB) March 06, 2014 -- Rotondo Law Firm (http://www.RotondoLaw.com), a Greater Toronto Area (GTA) personal injury law firm and wrongful death law firm, weighs in on the distracted driving fine increase set to go into this month and a new study showing distracted driving is now the number one cause of fatalities on Ontario roads.
On March 18, fines for distracted driving are set to nearly double from $155 to $280. The distracted driving charges will be imposed on those talking or texting on a handheld device while behind the wheel. It’s also illegal for drivers to look at display screens unrelated to driving, including laptops, MP3 players, and DVD players; these laws will not apply to GPS screens. This hike represents the first time the distracted driving fine has increased since the legislation was enacted in 2009. (Source: “Distracted driving the No. 1 killer on the roads, OPP says,” The Globe and Mail, March 3, 2014; http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/distracted-driving-the-no-1-killer-on-the-roads-opp-says/article17209653/.)
“In a run-up to the increase in fines, the OPP will be conducting a province-wide distracted driving campaign from March 8 to March 14, 2014,” says P. Michael Rotondo, lead counsel at Rotondo Law Firm. “Currently, a ticket for distracted driving does not come with demerit points, but drivers could also face a dangerous driving charge, which comes with six demerit points.”
Rotondo explains that the increase in distracted driving fines and the formal distracted driving campaign comes on the heels of a report by the OPP that shows distracted driving accidents in Ontario accounted for more fatalities than both impaired driving- and speed-related fatalities last year. In 2013, 78 people died as a result of distracted driving-related accidents; during the same time frame, 57 people died as a result of impaired driving and 44 deaths were attributed to speed-related accidents. Since 2010, a total of 403 people have died as a result of distracted driving.
“When it comes right down to it, distracted driving is not just the number one cause of death on Ontario roads, it is also responsible for roughly four million motor vehicle crashes each year in North America,” Rotondo adds. “Mobile phones are one of the most common distractions for drivers; in fact, studies show texting while driving increases the chance of being in an accident by more than 20 times.” (Source: “Distracted Driving,” CAA Distracted Driving web site; http://distracteddriving.caa.ca/education/index.php, last accessed March 5, 2014.)
“Distracted driving, including texting while driving, is a serious and deadly problem facing drivers on Ontario roads. No matter how much experience someone has behind the wheel, it only takes a split second for an accident to happen,” he concludes. “If someone or their loved one has been injured or killed by a distracted or negligent driver, they need an experienced personal injury lawyer from the Greater Toronto Area at their side. The lawyers at Rotondo Law Firm help victims receive the compensation they deserve for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses related to the accident.”
Rotondo Law Firm is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Toronto and has been providing personal injury law services to clients since 1999. Over the last 14 years, Rotondo Law Firm has been providing its clients with the highest level of legal service spanning many areas of personal injury law, including trip and fall accidents; motor vehicle, pedestrian, motorcycle, and bicycle accidents; brain injuries; air flight accidents; accident benefit claims; and wrongful dismissal claims. Whether their clients have been injured in a car accident, are owed compensation from insurance, or have been wrongfully dismissed, Rotondo Law will work diligently to ensure they receive the settlement they deserve. More information on Rotondo Law Firm is available by visiting the firm's web site at http://www.RotondoLaw.com or by calling 416-868-0900.
P. Michael Rotondo, Rotondo Law Firm, http://www.rotondolaw.com/, +1 905-266-0350, [email protected]
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