Ontario's New Road Safety Updates: Impact across the Board

The Making Ontario Roads Safer Act 2015 proposed a new and more stringent set of laws that intend to make Ontario's roads among the safest in North America.

This new legislation aims to reduce collisions, injuries and fatalities in the province's roads.

The newly updated laws under the Transportation Statute Laws are hoped to effect systemic changes in motorist behaviors regarding cyclists, pedestrians and other road-sharers.

Concurrently, the new amendments will also have their impact on motor vehicle accident lawyers and legislation of cases related to accidents. One of the main areas of focus in these new regulations is the alarming increase in incidents of distracted driving, mainly due to negligent use of cellphones etc.

These rules were urgently required because:

• Current collision trends indicate that collisions and fatalities caused by distracted driving may exceed those caused by alcohol/drug-impaired driving 

• Statistics also show that more than 45% of Ontario's drivers killed in accidents had alcohol/combination of alcohol+drugs in their systems 

• 46% of pedestrian accidents occurred at intersections and such pedestrian-motorist accidents represent one-fifth of Ontario's motor-vehicle fatalities

According to Steven Del Duca, Ontario Minister for Transportation, “Ontario's roads are among the safest in North America and this new legislation is intended to keep it that way.”

If you or a dear one has been injured in an accident caused by a distracted, negligent or aggressive driver, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer with expertise and knowledge of these new regulations. You may be entitled to compensation.

Understanding the New Rules

The new Act will make several changes in the existing Transportation Laws. They include:

• Higher fines for distracted driving: The amount goes up from current range of $60-500 to a new range of $300-1000. Three demerit points will be awarded on conviction and sanctions on novice drivers will be escalated. New set fine of $490 plus 3 demerits on average is envisaged. 

• Current sanctions for alcohol-impaired drivers applied to drug-impaired drivers. 

• Novice drivers convicted with distracted driving receive 30-days suspension for first offense. Additional sanctions to deal with repeat offenders. 

• “Whole road crossing” rules for drivers. Motorists must wait till pedestrians have crossed the road completely at school/pedestrian-crossings. 

• More protection for tow-trucks and emergency vehicles. 

• Higher penalties and demerits for “dooring” ($365 fine) 

• One-meter passing rule for motorists passing cyclists. Cyclists fined $110 for missing lights and reflectors. 

• License-plate denial for motorists' failure to pay Provincial Offenses Act fines. 

• Assistance to municipalities to collect unpaid fines. 

• Broader range of qualified medical personnel to identify/report medically-unfit drivers.

How We Can Assist

These new regulations squarely indicate that safety and responsibility are required by all road-users. Accidents impose enormous physical, financial and emotional costs on injured victims and their families. Those responsible for the accident can be petitioned to give monetary compensation.

Our experienced car accident lawyers can help you deal with the paperwork in getting statutory benefits, or instituting a personal injury suit against the at-fault party. We can advise/assist and advocate for you till you receive the settlement you justly deserve.