The Ontario government has announced plans for new legislation to toughen penalties for distracted and careless driving.
They include an increase in fines for distracted driving from the current minimum of $300 plus three demerit points on first conviction to a minimum of $500, three demerit points and a three-day license suspension.
Second and third convictions would increase the fines, demerit points and license suspensions even further.
For novice drivers, a second conviction would carry a 90-day license suspension, while a third conviction would result in cancellation of the license.
The government also plans to create a new offence for careless driving causing death or bodily harm, with a license suspension of up to five years, fines up to $50,000 and up to two years in jail.
Among other changes, Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca said he will introduce legislation to increase penalties for drivers who fail to yield for pedestrians, and for drivers convicted of multiple pedestrian-related offences within a five-year window.
In addition, the government is consulting on the use of cameras on school buses that record drivers passing while the red lights are flashing, so that this evidence can be admitted in court without a witness.
The proposed changes will be introduced in the legislature this fall.
On average, one person is killed on Ontario's roads every 17 hours.
In 2014, pedestrians and cyclists made up about 25 per cent of road fatalities in the province.
