Tag Archives: distracted driving

Driving Around on Canada Day

Canada DayPhoto by Shahnoor Habib Munmun – Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9389910

It’s almost time to celebrate Canada Day and enjoy the long weekend. There’s a lot of festivities happening in Winnipeg such as taking part of Canada’s largest living map at Shaw Park, the Osborne Village Street Celebration and fireworks at Assiniboine Park, just to name a few.

Wherever your destination is this Canada Day, keep in mind that this is one of the heaviest weekends for driving.

To avoid heavy traffic and parking at Assiniboine Park, Canad Inns is offering a Park N’ Ride until midnight. Just park your vehicle near Canadian Mennonite University, Asper Jewish Community Campus, Seasons of Tuxedo, St. Paul’s High School or Shaftesbury High School and ride Winnipeg Transit to the Park. Winnipeg Transit also has a free shuttle linking the Forks and Osborne Village. There will also be extra late night service scheduled for after the fireworks.

If you are headed to the beach or cottage and are driving longer distances, ensure that you’ve checked your vehicle so that it is ready for the drive. To keep the kids occupied and less chance of distractions while you are driving, have plenty of activities and snacks on hand to keep them busy. It’s important to plan ahead to make sure that your family arrives to and from your celebration points safely.

Have a safe and Happy Canada Day from all of us at Dr. Hook Towing!

Ontario fines for worst traffic offenses

A_narrow_bikelaneA narrow bikelane” by HallgrimssonOwn work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

The province of Ontario has unanimously passed new legislation that makes the penalties for some of the most serious traffic offenses considerably stiffer than they were.  In an attempt to provide a more effective deterrent against, among other things, distracted driving, driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and failing to properly share the roadway with cyclists, fines have been increased.

A single text message could cost Ontario drivers more than a new smartphone.  Distracted driving will now cost $1000 and three demerit points.

Driving under the influence of marijuana will now carry the same penalties as driving while drunk, which is common to most Canadian provinces.  There will be steep fines, escalated license suspensions, and mandated addictions counselling for repeat offenders.

Cyclists must be given more space – one meter in all directions, which can make it tight on some city streets.  “Dooring” a rider by opening the car door without looking, and hitting a cyclist, which has long been a hazard in urban areas will carry a penalty up to $1000.

Cyclists will get more responsibility, too.  They’ll face fines up to $500 if they’re not using required reflectors or lights.

For our Ontario counterparts in the towing industry, tow trucks will be given the same level of respect that other emergency vehicles receive.  When passing a truck with the lights flashing, drivers are now required to slow down and give a full lane for the emergency operation whenever possible.  This move alone will make Ontario’s roads a safer place for all who use them.

At Dr. Hook Towing, we often see the consequences of unsafe behavior on city streets and highways.  We see Ontario’s stiffening of traffic laws as a necessary update of legislation that’s meant to make the roads safe for everyone.

Get in touch with us! For 24 hour tow truck service, call us Toll Free at 1-800-561-4665. Learn more about our Towing and Recovery Services. You can also sign up online for our Guaranteed Roadside Assistance program, membership is free and you know we’ll be there if you need us.

Distracted Driving a Problem in British Columbia

texting-while-drivingIt’s a story familiar in many jurisdictions – a disproportionate number of accidents are caused by the least experienced drivers on the road, and their accidents are worse, with more than the average number resulting in a serious injury or a fatality. 6.6 percent of British Columbia drivers are under 20 years of age, but they account for 14 percent of road accidents. Often, the problem is that inexperienced drivers find themselves distracted – they text or talk on the phone, eat, or even apply makeup while driving.

The province of British Columbia is tackling the problem with serious restrictions to the Graduated Licensing program that they have in effect.

Under the provinces GLP, drivers first get their L (Learners) license. They must drive only with the supervision of an experienced supervisor for a period of at least a year, before they can take a road test and graduate to their N (Novice) license. N drivers are subject to limitations, including a zero blood alcohol limit and no use of electronic equipment, even it it’s hands-free. They must maintain a safe driving record for two years before they can take another road test for their full license.

Infractions of the ban on electronic devices during the L and N periods of licensing carry heavy consequences, including applying 3 penalty points to their license, which triggers a review. They will also have to restart the 24-month Novice period.

Since Dr. Hook provides emergency roadside service, we see a lot of accidents, many caused by distracted driving. It is great that provinces across Canada taking the measures necessary to educate drivers about the hazards of distracted driving.

Contact Us! For 24 hour tow truck service or roadside service, call Dr. Hook at (204) 956-4665 or Toll Free 1-800-561-4665.