Watch the tickey full#

Hersman says a study by the Transport Research Laboratory in Britain found drivers using smartwatches took nearly one full second longer to respond to a hazard than drivers using a smartphone. That dictation could be permissible under laws that allow hands-free use. The watch doesn't let you type text messages or e-mails, but you can dictate replies. 'Your eyes could be off the road for many seconds as you read, process the notification and then respond to it – taking your eyes off the road and mind off the drive is a recipe for disaster.' 'If you're tapped on the shoulder, your instinct is to turn around – if your wrist is vibrating, your natural instinct will be to look at it,' says Deborah Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council, a U.S. The Apple Watch vibrates whenever you get an alert. Nova Scotia says it bans texting on any communications device. Saskatchewan says smartwatches are not counted as hand-held communication devices under its law– but you could still be charged with driving without due care and attention if you're driving unsafely while using one. Globe Drive asked each province if their laws include smartwatches – none mention the new device specifically.īritish Columbia and Alberta say smartwatches are considered to be electronic communication devices under their existing laws and can't be used while driving. 'Some features available on the device are permitted (GPS navigation) under the province's distracted driving provisions,' wrote MTO spokesman Ajay Woozageer.

But, it does say that sections 78 and 78.1 of the Highway Traffic Act ban texting, reading texts or e-mails, viewing images and swiping and scrolling on a smartwatch while driving – even though the law doesn't specifically mention smartwatches. Ontario's Ministry of Transportation (MTO) says it's up to police to decide if you'll be charged. But, if you're caught driving unsafely because of any distraction, you could be charged with careless driving. It doesn't address other kinds of distracted driving, like digging through a bag or spilling a coffee. Ontario's law only covers hand-held electronic devices.