Alberta's distracted driving legislation now in Effect

Alberta is the last province to implement distracted driving legislation.  Alberta's law (Bill 16) to improve road safety and prohibit a wide variety of distracted driving behaviours includes restricting drivers from:

·         using hand-held cell phones

·         texting or e-mailing

·         using electronic devices like laptop computers, video games, cameras, video entertainment displays and programming portable audio players (e.g., MP3 players)

·         entering information on GPS units

·         reading printed materials in the vehicle

·         writing, printing or sketching

·         personal grooming

The fine for this new offence is $172.