New road safety rules came into force Tuesday with stiffer fines for distracted driving, among other changes.
The set fine for using or holding a handheld communication device is now 490 dollars and three demerit points on conviction.
The Ministry of Transportation says fatalities from distracted driving are projected to eclipse those from drinking and driving by 2016 and a driver who uses a cellphone is four times more likely to be in a crash.
Drivers will also face higher fines if caught passing too closely to stopped tow trucks and school buses and must now give cyclists a one-metre space when passing.
Those who open a car door in the path of a cyclist will face an increased fine of 365 dollars and three demerit points.
