Ontario hopes new legislation prevents on the road accidents

The recent passing of the Making Ontario’s Roads Safer Act will go a long way in ensuring that Ontario roadways are among the safest in the country.

In an attempt to prevent motor vehicle accidents and related injuries and deaths, the act will do the following, plus more:

— Increase penalties for distracting driving. The current range for such a crime is $60 to $500. New laws will call for fines ranging from $300 to $1,000.

— Introduce ideas to best deal with repeat offenders of driving while under the influence of alcohol.

— Require drivers to remain stopped for pedestrians until they completely make their way to the other side of the road. This will apply in both crossovers and school crossings.

— Give municipalities assistance in collecting unpaid fines.

— Apply the current sanctions for alcohol impaired driving to those who are caught driving under the influence of drugs.

These measures are set to take effect over the next few months. It is the hopes of the government that the Making Ontario’s Roads Safer Act will prevent dangerous driving, which will in turn reduce the number of accidents. While there is no way to completely eliminate all accidents, steps like these can go a long way in making the roads safer for drivers and pedestrians.

If a person is injured in a motor vehicle accident, they shouldn’t hesitate to seek medical advice. From there, the injured party can learn more about the accident, including who was at fault and what types of compensation they are in position to receive.

Source: Ontario Ministry of Transportation, “Ontario Passes Legislation to Improve Road Safety,” June 02, 2015