A new private member's bill that would see distracted pedestrians fined up to $50 for crossing the road while using their smartphones was unveiled at Ontario's Legislature on Monday. Exceptions would include pedestrians making an emergency call or if they began speaking on the phone before stepping into the crosswalk. In Ontario last year, provincial police attributed 65 deaths to distracted driving, more than those caused by drunk driving, speeding or not wearing a seatbelt. If passed into law, the bill would see distracted pedestrians crossing the street fined $50 for their first offence, $75 for the second and $125 for the third offence. Rather, his bill would simply "give police another tool to alert pedestrians to the risk of crossing the road while being distracted by their smartphone."

Source: CBC News October 30, 2017 16:07 UTC