Quebec considers tougher penalties for distracted driving

Since Quebec banned holding a cellphone while driving in 2008, the law hasn’t been updated.

“I think the problem has evolved a lot. At that time in 2008, you’ll remember — I feel like I was in another universe,” said Dave Leclerc, a vice-president with SAAQ.

READ MORE: Quebec’s Couillard calls on Ottawa to criminalize distracted driving

Leclerc said that ever since the invention of smartphones, using a cellphone while driving has gotten worse.

An average of six deaths a year are caused by using a phone behind the wheel, one of Quebec’s chief coroners, Luc Malouin, told the National Assembly public hearing on Tuesday. That’s only counting the cases where it could be proven definitively that the accident involved a cellphone.

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

CAA Quebec estimates that 95 per cent of all distracted driving violations involve a cellphone.

“We know people that don’t get the message. We want to send a strong message,” said CAA Quebec‘s Sophie Gagnon.

READ MORE: Quebec ad campaign takes aim at texting and driving

CAA is calling on the government to create stricter penalties. Right now, offenders lose four demerit points off their licence. CAA proposes that a second offense (within two years of the first) should result in a loss of another six demerit points.

“When you get ten demerit points, you automatically face a higher cost for renewing your driver’s licence,” Gagnon said. “Even if they don’t increase the fines, there’s an impact on the wallet.”

A third offense would result in temporarily losing your licence.

Quebec’s new transport minister will still meet with other groups for more recommendations before he makes a decision.