Resources Government Related Articles Ontario Passes Law Banning Cell Phones While Driving
Ontario Passes Law Banning Cell Phones While Driving PDF Print E-mail
Written by Janna Smeltzer   
Friday, 24 April 2009 00:00
With the passage of Bill 118 to ban drivers from using hand-held cell phones, Blackberries and iPods, the Ontario School Bus Association said it will continue to push the Ontario Government to issue an exemption to school boards for two-way radios in school buses.

At this writing, final regulations were yet to be finalized. The bill goes into affect upon Royal Assent, the Canadian legislative process for enacting a law.

Since the bill was introduced in October, OSBA has held that school bus two-way radios should be specifically listed as an exemption because those radio conversations are typically brief, monitored and don’t create the same level of distraction as other electronic devices. OSBA added that it will continue to consult with the government prior to the regulations being finalized. The law is expected to prohibit all hand-held wireless communications devices, including cell phone and Blackberries, and hand-held electronic entertainment devices, such as iPods or MP3 players. The law will likely also ban any texting or emailing on these devices by a motorist when the vehicle is in operation.

The exemptions to the law that OSBA hopes to persuade the government to amend currently include use of hands-free devices, GPS units mounted on the dashboard, 9-11 calls, tracking devices used on commercial vehicles, collision avoidance systems and instrument display screens.
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