Ontario quickly turns down Toronto's request to ban pedestrian texting on roads

Ontario is turning down Toronto city council's request to ban texting and walking while crossing the street, instead dishing out a bit of common sense advice.

Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca says pedestrians should keep their heads up while on the road and always be aware of their surroundings.

But, he says, the Liberal government has no plans to change the Highway Traffic Act, as Toronto requested.

On Thursday night, as council debatedthe city's first ever road safety plan,Coun. FrancesNunziatamoved a motion to ask the province of Ontario to amend the Highway Traffic Act to make it illegal to use your phone or other mobile devicewhile crossing the street.

The motion passed 26-15.

City council asked the Ministry of Transportation to consider an amendment that wouldprohibit"pedestrians fromactively using a handheld wireless communication device or handheld electronic entertainment devicewhileonany travelled portion of a roadway."

In a statement, Del Duca notes that Toronto and all municipalities "are mature levels of government with powers to establish bylaws."

Motion passed but some councillors jeered

Coun.Mike Layton, who voted against the amendment, tweeted councillors must have been "distracted" when they voted for the motion.

"All of us are very frustrated when we see people with their heads down, looking at their devices," Layton said.

However, "activelyusinga hand held device" is too open to interpretation, he opined.

'We're all now unsafe'

"I've seen cyclists nearly take out pedestrians because the pedestrian, with headphones on and asmartphonein focus, steps in front of someone who has the right-of-way because they're on a bicycle,"saidCoun. Shelley Carroll, who voted for the motion.

"So what we're saying is, once you're in the travelled portion of the roadway, everyone needs to be paying attention."

The main issue for Carroll is distraction. When no one is paying attention to their surroundings because they're focused on their phones, it's the pedestrian who pays the price.

"We're all now unsafe, especially the pedestrian," shesaid.

However, some still say it's up to drivers to watch for pedestrians.

Jared Kolb, executive director of Cycle Toronto, said he thinks the motion is "a little rich" and the onus should lie with the driver.

"With great horsepower comes great responsibility and at the end of the day drivers have a great deal of responsibility here," Kolb said.

"We need to really combat distracted driving, not distracted walking."