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McGuinty Government Proposes New Rules For Novice Drivers And Tougher
Laws For Drinking And Suspended Drivers
>>
TORONTO, Nov. 18 /CNW/ -
NEWS
Ontario is proposing tough new legislation that would, if passed, make
the province's roads safer for all drivers.
Proposed changes to Ontario's Graduated Licensing System would mean it
would take a new driver up to 36 months to get a driver's licence, giving them
better skills and experience to drive safely.
The proposed changes also include:
<<
- a zero blood alcohol concentration level for all drivers 21 years of
age and younger
- tougher penalties for novice drivers that increase with each violation
of graduated licensing restrictions, with convictions that result in
demerit points or with court-ordered suspensions
- tighter restrictions on the number of young passengers teen drivers
can carry.
>>
Other changes proposed in the bill would help keep suspended drivers off
Ontario's roads by giving police the power to immediately impound their
vehicles for seven days - at the roadside.
Convicted drunk drivers and those who continue to drive without a
court-ordered ignition lock would also be subject to an immediate seven-day
roadside impoundment.
QUOTES
"Teenaged drivers are about 3.5 times more likely to be involved in a
fatal collision," said Transportation Minister Jim
Bradley(http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/about/minister.htm). "Lengthening
their training period will give young and novice drivers more time to develop
a lifetime of safe driving habits."
"We support Ontario's proposed legislation and regulations - a longer
graduated licensing period for new drivers and a no drinking policy for all
drivers 21 years of age and under would help keep young drivers from drinking
and driving and give new drivers the experience they need," said Andrew Murie,
Chief Executive Officer of Mothers Against Drunk Driving Canada
(http://www.madd.ca/).
"CAA is pleased to support these measures that will strengthen Ontario's
graduated licensing system, crack down on suspended drivers, and that will
help keep impaired drivers off our roadways," said Faye Lyons, Government
Relations Specialist, CAA South Central Ontario (http://www.caasco.com/).
QUICK FACTS
<<
- Motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of hospital admissions
among youth aged 15 to 24.
- Ontario was the first jurisdiction in North America to introduce a
comprehensive graduated licensing program, in April 1994.
LEARN MORE
Download a copy of the latest Ontario Road Safety Annual Report
(http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/orsar/).
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ontario.ca/transportation-news
Disponible en français
BACKGROUNDER
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MAKING ONTARIO'S ROADS SAFER
>>
New Measures For Young Drivers
In 2005, Ontario had the safest roads of any province or state, yet still
766 people were killed and 3,619 seriously injured on our roads.
Teenaged drivers are nearly 3.5 times more likely to be involved in a
fatal collision than drivers aged 30 to 34.
To prevent tragedies on our roads, the McGuinty government has introduced
legislation and regulations that, if passed, would better prepare our young
and novice drivers to drive safely, and would tackle dangerous driving
behaviours, such as driving drunk and driving with a suspended licence.
Giving Young and Novice Drivers the Right Start
Ontario's Graduated Licensing System (GLS) works: only 14 years after
this program began, fatalities and injuries among teen drivers have declined
by almost 25 per cent. Now the Ontario government is moving to make GLS even
more effective.
To give new drivers the right start, Ontario plans to improve its GLS
with new driving restrictions and a longer learning time period. This will
help new drivers develop the right skills and experience they need for a
lifetime of safe driving. These improvements include:
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- Increasing the length of time drivers spend at the G1
(http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/driver/gradu/index.html) and
G2 (http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/driver/gradu/index.html)
levels. Currently, novice drivers can obtain a full G license in as
little as 20 months. Under the proposed legislation, the minimum would
be 30 months.
- Replacing the current night-time restriction on the number of young
passengers a teen G2 driver can carry with an all-day restriction.
- Introducing sanctions that get tougher each time a novice driver
violates graduated licensing restrictions, receives a conviction that
results in demerit points or a receives a court-ordered suspension.
These drivers would receive, upon conviction:
- First instance - 30-day licence suspension;
- Second instance - 90-day licence suspension;
- Third instance - the driver must return to the start of the
graduated licensing program (G1).
Graduated Licensing Requirements: Current and Proposed
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G1 Requirements Current Proposed
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G1 Length 1 year, reducible to One and a half years
8 months if the driver (18 months), reducible
completes an approved to 12 months if the
driver education course and driver completes an
presents the certificate to approved driver
the Ministry. education course.
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G1 Passengers Accompanied by a fully Same
licensed driver, who has been
licensed for four years, and
a blood alcohol concentration
of less than 0.05, in case
he/she needs to drive the
vehicle.
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Ensure the accompanying Same
driver is the only other
person in the front seat.
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G1 Road Cannot drive on Ontario's Same
Restrictions "400-series" highways or
on high-speed expressways
such as the Queen Elizabeth
Way, Don Valley Parkway,
Gardiner Expressway, E.C.
Row Expressway and the
Conestoga Parkway. May drive
on these roads if
accompanied by a qualified
driving instructor.
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G1 Nighttime Cannot drive between Same
Restriction midnight and 5:00 a.m.
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Requirements for Current Proposed
Both G1 and G2
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G1 and G2 G1 and G2 drivers must Zero BAC for all drivers
BAC Level drive with zero BAC. up to and including
age 21.
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Sanctions For For each conviction for Introduce escalating
Violating GLS violating a G1 or G2 sanctions for any
Restrictions restriction a novice driver combination of repeat
receives a 30-day licence violations of G1/G2/M1/
suspension. There are no M2 restrictions or
repeat offender provisions. convictions for
pointable HTA offences
within a 5-year period.
Novice driver receives a
30-day licence
suspension for the first
conviction, 90-day
suspension for the
second conviction and
would have their licence
cancelled for the 3rd
conviction. The person
would lose all credit
for any time spent in
GLS including any time
discount and would have
to re-apply to enter G1.
Once they enter G1 again
they would complete all
program requirements as
if they were a new,
never-licensed driver.
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G2 Requirements Current Proposed
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G2 Length Minimum of 12 months. Minimum of 18 months.
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G2 Passengers Teen G2 drivers can carry Prohibit teen G2 drivers
passengers from midnight from carrying more than
to 5 a.m. as follows: one passenger aged 19
and under all day during
First six months: G2 the first year of G2;
drivers 19 or under can
carry only one passenger There would be
aged 19 or under. exemptions for family
members or an
After the first six months, accompanying driver who
and until the G2 driver meets the requirements
earns a full G licence or of an accompanying
turns 20, three passengers driver in G1.
aged 19 or under.
There are exemptions for
family members or an
accompanying driver who
meets the requirements of
an accompanying driver
in G1.
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>>
Enforcing Zero Tolerance for Young Drinking Drivers
Drivers aged 19 to 21 are over-represented in drinking and driving
collisions. Ontario wants to put a stop to this trend by making it illegal for
any person aged 21 or under to drive after drinking any alcohol. Young drivers
in all licence classes will be required to have a zero blood alcohol
concentration (BAC) whenever they are behind the wheel.
New Measures For Suspended Drivers
An estimated three-quarters of all suspended drivers continue to drive.
The proposed legislation will help get these dangerous drivers off our
roads by giving police the power to immediately impound their vehicles for
seven days - at the roadside.
<<
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Suspended Drivers Current Proposed
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Driving without Upon conviction, the driver Same.
an Ignition of a non-commercial vehicle
Interlock Device is fined:
(I.I.)
- $200-$1,000 and *
for a commercial vehicle,
driver is fined:
- $200-$20,000 *
* ignition interlock period
is extended by 12 months
for a first-time offender
who was initially subject
to a one-year ignition
interlock condition;
and by 36 months for a
second-time offender who
was initially subject to
a three-year I.I.
requirement.
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Vehicle owners who knowingly
permit a driver having an
I.I. licence condition to Same fines apply
operate a vehicle that is plus 7-day vehicle
not equipped with an I.I. impoundment (regardless
device may also be charged. of vehicle owner
knowing that the driver
Vehicle Owner - if not the has an I.I. condition
driver (non-commercial)
- $200-$1,000
Vehicle Owner - if not the
driver (commercial)
- $200-$20,000
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Driving with 90-day administrative Same plus 7-day vehicle
BAC over 0.08 or licence suspension and impoundment
Fail to provide charge under the Criminal
a breath sample Code
No vehicle impoundment
provisions
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Suspended Drivers Upon conviction, the driver Same plus 7-day vehicle
(for some is fined: impoundment
HTA offences,
excluding - $1,000 to $5,000
defaulted fine (first offence)
but including
non-payment of - $2,000 to $10,000
family support) (subsequent offences)
Plus six months additional
suspension and up to six
months possible imprisonment
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>>
Measures For Impaired Drivers
Drinking and driving is still a factor in about a quarter of all road
fatalities every year. To help police get drunk drivers off our roads, the
proposed legislation will also allow police to immediately impound for seven
days vehicles being driven by convicted impaired drivers who do not have a
court-ordered ignition interlock installed.
<<
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Current Proposed
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zero Blood - Zero BAC applies only to Zero BAC would apply to
Alcohol Level novice drivers within G1 novice drivers within
and G2 of the Graduated G1 and G2 of the
Licensing System. Graduated Licensing
System AND to all
drivers, in all license
classes up to and
including age 21.
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When reinstating - There is no fee or $150 Administrative
drivers license penalty when reinstating monetary penalty would
after being one's driver license be levied for those
suspended for after a 12 hour reinstating their
blowing in the suspension for drinking driver's licenses after
Warn Range and driving in the receiving escalating
(0.05 - 0.08 BAC) Warn Range. suspensions for
blowing in the Warn
Range; these escalating
sanctions were created
under Bill 203 and will
be operationalized in
mid-2009)
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Opportunity to - HTA Sec. 48 (6), which Amend Sec 48 (6) to
take a Second has not changed under provide that the second
Breath Test Bill 203, allows the breath test could be
opportunity for a taken on a second
"second breath test" when roadside screening
a driver blows .05 BAC device or an approved
and over at roadside. instrument.
The second breath test
has to be performed on an
approved instrument.
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Other Measures
Ontario is also proposing a number of important legislative measures and
regulatory amendments that will help keep Ontario's roads safe, including:
- Encouraging safer driving behaviour by raising fines for serious
driving offences, such as failing to stop for a red light, not wearing
a seat belt and not moving over for emergency vehicles.
- Recognizing power-assisted bicycles (also known as e-bikes) in
legislation, and setting out powers to regulate their operating
requirements.
- A two-hour time limit for drivers who blow in the warn range and
allowing a second breath test to be conducted on a roadside screening
device.
- Making school buses safer by adopting the Canadian Standards
Association's proposed 2007 school bus vehicle standards
- Permitting the use of child car seats and restraints for children with
medical conditions.
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Bob Nichols, Communications Branch, ontario.ca/transportation-news
416-327-1158 Disponible en français
BACKGROUNDER
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MAKING ONTARIO'S ROADS SAFER
>>
MEASURES ALREADY IN PLACE
A Legacy of Safety
Ontario has passed progressive driver safety-focused legislation and
introduced new programs designed to provide young drivers with the right
skills for a life-time of safe driving.
Ontario's Improved Beginner Driver Education program
In September 2007, Ontario introduced a new Beginner Driver Education
curriculum to ensure that driver training schools comply with provincial
standards and driving instructors fully adhere to the licensing standards.
The new curriculum focuses on today's driving environment, emphasizing
skills to deal with speeding and distracted and aggressive driving,
emphasizing the sound driving skills that new drivers need to stay safe. Each
year in Ontario, more than 100,000 students graduate from a ministry-approved
course. More than 700,000 students have graduated from ministry-approved
courses since June 2000.
Road Safety for All
The Safer Roads for a Safer Ontario Act (Bill 203), introduced in April
2007, keeps street racers and drinking drivers off our roads. Today, drivers
caught racing or stunt driving face an immediate, seven-day driver's licence
suspension and vehicle impoundment at the roadside.
In addition, Ontario has introduced longer licence suspensions for
drivers who blow in the "warn range" - having a blood alcohol content of 0.05
to 0.08.
Eyes on the Road, Hands on the Wheel
Ontario introduced legislation on October 28, 2008, that will, if passed,
make it illegal to use a hand-held cell phone, send e-mail or text messages,
or use other hand-held electronic devices while driving.
Transport Canada estimates that driver distraction is a contributing
factor in about 20 per cent of all collisions. A driver who uses a cell phone
when behind the wheel is about four times more likely to be in a crash than a
driver who is focused on the road.
<<
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Bob Nichols, Communications Branch, ontario.ca/transportation-news
416-327-1158 Disponible en français
>>
-30-
For further information: Nicole Lippa-Gasparro, Minister's Office, (416) 327-1815; Bob Nichols, Communications Branch, (416) 327-1158
Other news releases disseminated by this ministry
