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Welcome to our What's New section. This section is updated regularly with news from Merit and the insurance industry.
Article #1: NEW RULES FOR ONTARIO DRIVERS
Eyes on the road – hands on the wheel: Cell phone driving ban now in effect!
Keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. Ontario is now the fourth province to ban hand-held wireless communication devices or any hand-held electronic entertainment devices while driving. Drivers in Ontario are now prohibited by law to use hand-held cell phones, text or e-mail, or view laptops or DVD players while behind the wheel regardless of being at a stop-light or in heavy traffic.
Drivers who text, type, email, dial, or chat using a prohibited hand-held device can face fines of up to $500, as well as possible demerit points, license suspension and/or
imprisonment.
Hands-Free Devices Only
The new law applies only to hand-held wireless communications and hand-held
electronic entertainment devices. This means drivers must only operate wireless devices that can be used in a “hands-free” manner.
Hands-Free Devices Include:
- A cell phone with and earpiece or headset using voice dialing or plugged into the vehicle's sound system.
- A global positioning system (GPS) device that is properly secured to the dashboard or another accessible place in the vehicle.
- A portable audio player that has been plugged into the vehicle’s sound system.
For more information, visit
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/distracted-driving/index.shtml
Recent studies show that cell phones can be a major source of distraction for many
drivers. Cell phone users are four times more likely to be in an accident than a driver focused on the road. Dialing and texting carry the highest degree of risk with all cell phone-related activities. Ontario joins more than 50 countries worldwide and a growing number of North American jurisdictions that have similar distracted driving legislation including Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, California and New York.
Source: Insurance Brokers Association Ontario: STAYING in Touch, Volume Twenty, Number One.
Article #2: MERIT NOW OFFERS LEGAL EXPENSE INSURANCE
Understanding your rights and getting access to legal advice can be costly, time-consuming and confusing. Often, these things will prevent you from pursuing or defending your legal rights. Resolving common legal issues, such as being faced with a traffic ticket that you believe was wrongfully assessed, or experiencing workplace discrimination, is sometimes only possible with proper legal counsel.
Merit now offers affordable access to legal advice, assistance and cost coverage through legal expense insurance policies, a unique coverage that helps individuals and business owners if they have a dispute with another party. Policy holders will have access to professional legal counsel and representation, along with the peace of mind of knowing that the costs of pursuing legal action will be covered. Merit currently offers three legal expense insurance options, provided by DAS Canada*:
- DASdrive - Coverage to assist you when legal conflicts arise from the use or ownership of an automobile.
- DASliving - Provides legal counseling, assistance and cost coverage for individuals and families facing many of today’s common legal issues.
- DASbusiness - Coverage to protect businesses against the cost of potential legal disputes.
How do I get coverage?
Policies are available through your Merit broker. Read more about legal expense insurance>
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What's New