Distracted driving could soon cost you $1,000
Drivers who text behind the wheel, who “door” passing cyclists or drive stoned will face much stiffer penalties under a new Ontario law that increases fines for some offences up to $1,000.
The law passed third reading Tuesday and will soon be law. Here are 12 things you need to know — or face hefty fines:
TEXTING AND DRIVING
The bill would increase maximum distracted driving penalties up to $1,000 and three demerit points.
LIGHT UP YOUR BIKE
Cyclists who don’t have proper reflectors or required bicycle lights could face fines of up to $500. The bill would also permit the use of flashing red lights on bicycles.
SCHOOL BUS IMPOSTORS
The bill would also “clarify that only school buses can be painted chrome yellow.”
CYCLE SAFE
The bill would require all drivers to give cyclists a one-metre berth when passing at all times.
CYCLE MORE
The bill would allow cycling on paved shoulders of provincial highways. And the legislation would enable more cities to install contraflow lanes: bike lanes on one-way streets that run counter to vehicle traffic.
DRIVE SOBER
The bill would bring Ontario in line with other provinces and enact the same penalties for stoned drivers as those who are drunk, including escalating license suspensions and mandated addictions counselling.
‘DOORING’ WILL COST YOU
Getting clotheslined by a car door on your commute to work can be deadly — and now the province will take it as seriously as distracted driving, increasing fines to a maximum of $1,000 and three demerit points.
EVEN BIGGER TRUCKS ON HIGHWAYS
Double-long transport trucks are about to get a little bigger: 2.5 metres longer to be exact. The backgrounder on the bill says the change would “accommodate new technologies required to meet air quality and greenhouse gas emissions standards, and include more comfortable sleeping areas for drivers.”
TOWING THE LINE
The bill would offer the same protections to tow-truck drivers as emergency responders: When passing a tow-truck with flashing lights, drivers would be required to slow down and give a full lane’s berth when possible.
ALLOW MORE PEOPLE TO KEEP THEIR LICENCES AS IDENTIFICATION
Ontarians who’ve had their driver’s licence revoked for medical reasons can keep it as identification and in case they are allowed to drive again.
CROSSWALK CRACKDOWN
Drivers who try to deke through crosswalks as soon as pedestrians are halfway through will have to wait a bit longer: the bill would require drivers to wait until no one is in the crosswalk.
NO SKATEBOARDING BEHIND CARS
The law bans skateboards from hitching a ride from a moving car.