Want to drive or pedal in Quebec? Put your phones down and take your earbuds out

Quebec's upgraded distracted driving laws go into effect Saturday, impacting not just motorists but cyclists and mobility scooter users as well.

Motorists will face substantially heftier fines if they arecaught with a portable electronic device be it a cell phone, tablet or music player in their hands. Subsequent offences within a two-year period will lead to an immediate licence suspension.

Meanwhile, cyclistswill risk fines of $80 to $100 if they arecaught handling their electronic device or wearingheadphones. Mobility scooter users face fines of $30 to $60 for the same offences.

Where motorists are permitted one earbud, cyclists and mobility scooter users are prohibited from wearing any.

That ban is somethingMontreal resident Rhea Gruttercan get behind.

Grutter told CBC that she was injured two years ago whenan earbud-wearing cyclist collided with heron the DeMaisonneuve Boulevard bike path.

She notified police butwithout any laws banning headphones, she said, "Thecops camebut did nothing."

After that experience, Grutter supports the new regulations.

So does Montrealer Lizzy Bay.

"It's good that they're putting out these fines, even though it sucks to get them," she said, taking a break from a cycling trip through the OldPort. "You'll learn fast if you're charged 100 bucks each time."

Motorists to be fined up to $600

Distracted driving accounts for about 34 per cent of deaths on the road, making it Quebec'sleading cause of fatalcollisionsin 2017, according to MarioVaillancourt, spokesperson for the SAAQ, the province's automobile insurance board.

Motorists caught with aportable electronic device in their hands, whether they are using it or not,will now face fines of $300 to $600. This is up from a maximum of $100. Demerit points have increased from four to five.

If a driver is caught for a second time within two years, officers will immediately suspend their licence on the spot for three days.

Subsequent offences within a two-year period can lead to seven- to 30-day suspensions that are also immediately enforced.

If, for example, a driver withonly four demerit points is caught with a mobile device in their hand, Vaillancourt said, "They will lose their licence for at least three months."

Cyclists and mobility scooter users no longer face the risk of demerit points for road infractions, he said.

CAA-QubecFoundation calls for more enforcement

Provincial police issued 12,918 infractions for cellphone use behind the wheel in 2016 and, in 2017, Montreal police issued 15,409 infractions, but road safety advocates would like to see even more enforcement.

"Some people, I'm sorry, but they don't understand with their brain, they understand with their pocket," said Marco Harrison, director of theCAA-Qubec Foundation which isfocused on improving road safety across the province.

The CAA-QubecFoundationworks to raise awareness among drivers to the dangers of distracted driving through a variety of programs and its website, he said, but increased enforcement will drive home the message.

The foundation metMinistry of Transport officials in the lead-up to Quebec's decision to amend the Highway Safety Code, and Harrison saidCAA-Qubec made it clearthat more enforcement is needed in tandem with increased efforts to educate the population aboutthe dangers of distracted driving.

"Better enforcement has to be part of the solution," he said.

Exceptions to the rule

There are a few exceptions to the prohibition on using portable electronics while on the road.

Devices that are securely mounted on a dashboard or handlebars in a way that doesn't obstruct views or hinder vehicle operation can be used as long asthat usage is in relation to the vehicle's operation. This also applies to display screens that are integrated into a vehicle.

That means it is OK, for example, to adjust GPSco-ordinates, but it is not permissible tochangeplaylists, transmitmessages or checkthe local news.

Set it up before you go

Even if occasionally using a device that is securely attached to your dash or handlebars is allowed in some cases, Harrison said it is still dangerous.

That is why CAA-Quebec recommends setting everything up before hitting the road.

"You have to understand, care and program everything you can before you get on your way," he said.