{"id":6223,"date":"2023-10-15T13:37:22","date_gmt":"2023-10-15T13:37:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/301webdemo.com\/zaylaw\/blog\/distracted-driving-the-leading-cause-of-car-accidents-in-ontario\/"},"modified":"2026-08-18T07:09:43","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T07:09:43","slug":"distracted-driving-the-leading-cause-of-car-accidents-in-ontario","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/301webdemo.com\/zaylaw\/blog\/distracted-driving-the-leading-cause-of-car-accidents-in-ontario\/","title":{"rendered":"Distracted Driving: The Leading Cause of Car Accidents in Ontario"},"content":{"rendered":"

Driving while distracted by things other than what is happening on the road <\/span>has become the leading cause<\/span><\/a> of serious accidents in Ontario. For decades, the most dangerous behaviours drivers could do behind the wheel were speeding and driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However now that <\/span>nearly 90%<\/span><\/a> of all Canadians (and roughly 98% of 16 to 24-year-olds) own a smartphone, using your phone has become the most dangerous driving behaviour. Distracted driving<\/a> now contributes to <\/span>an estimated 21%<\/span><\/a> of fatal accidents and <\/span>27%<\/span><\/a> of accidents leading to serious injury.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Texting, talking on the phone, or otherwise driving distracted is a breach of the driver\u2019s duty of care to road users and can be grounds for a tort claim against the driver. If you or a loved one has been in a car accident with a distracted driver, the lawyers at <\/span>Zayouna Law Firm<\/span><\/a> are here to help.<\/span><\/p>\n

How Prevalent is Distracted Driving in Ontario?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Distracted driving has been contributing to more and more accidents in Ontario every year, increasing an estimated <\/span>36% from 2020 to 2022<\/span><\/a> alone. The prevalence of distracted driving is sobering considering how preventable it is. <\/span>Roughly 80%<\/span><\/a> of Canadians admit to engaging in some distracted behaviours while driving even though <\/span>90% of Canadians<\/span><\/a> admit that distracted driving poses a serious threat to their safety on the road.<\/span><\/p>\n

What are the Penalties for Distracted Driving in Ontario<\/span><\/h2>\n

In 2019, Ontario made the penalties for distracted driving much more severe. As per <\/span>Ontario regulation 366\/09<\/span><\/a>, the penalties for using a hand-held device while driving are now tiered depending on the number of prior offenses:<\/span><\/p>\n