Ontario proposes road safety legislation aimed at young, novice drivers

Ontario has introduced new legislation designed to strengthen the province’s graduated licensing system, crack down on suspended drivers and help keep impaired drivers off roadways.
Proposed changes to Ontario’s Graduated Licensing System would mean it would take a new driver 16 months longer to obtain a driver’s licence (i.e. 36 months, instead of the current 20 months).
“Teenaged drivers are about 3.5 times more likely to be involved in a fatal collision,” Ontario Transportation Minister Jim Bradley said in a press release. “Lengthening their training period will give young and novice drivers more time to develop a lifetime of safe driving habits.”
Proposed legislative 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 court-ordered suspensions; and
•    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.