Quebec to Ottawa: Consider criminalizing cellphone use while driving

Quebec is asking the federal governmentto examine the possibility of criminalizingthe use ofcellphones while driving.

Laurent Lessard, the province's new transport minister, wants hisfederal counterpart Marc Garneauto look into the matter.

Lessard's comments come on the heels of a Quebec coroner's report that recommended the Criminal Code be amended.

• Should cellphone use carry same penalty as drunk driving?

CoronerMichelFerland saidthe federal government shouldmakedriving while texting or talking on the phone a criminal offence in the case of death or injury.

As it stands,cellphone usewhile driving is only considered a violation of the QuebecHighway Safety Code, nota criminal offence.

Lessard said it will be on the agenda when he next meets Garneau.

He also said the provincial government is looking into introducing stiffer fines and demerit points for cellphone use while driving as part of the Highway Safety Code.

Drivers engaged in text messaging on a cellphone are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crashor near-crash eventcompared with non-distracted drivers, according to a recent U.S. study.

Tools already in place, feds say

JoanneGhiz, a spokeswoman for the federal justice department, said law enforcement already hastools to deal with those who use a cellphone while driving.

"Using a handheld cellphone while driving, ortextingwhile driving, can already be prosecuted under existing provisions of the Criminal Code when this behaviour becomes 'dangerous driving,'" she said in an email.

Dangerous driving causing bodily harm is an indictable offence punishable by a maximum penalty of 10 years, while dangerous driving causing death carries a maximum penalty of 14 years, she said.

• Are stronger laws the solution to curb distracted driving?