Ontario proposes tougher fines, suspensions for commercial vehicle drivers
Ontario is preparing to sharply increase penalties for commercial vehicle offences, including distracted driving and speed limiter violations.
This is part of a broader legislative package aimed at cracking down on dangerous drivers across the province, according to a news release. The measures form part of a sweeping road safety initiative that also includes new roadside suspensions and lifetime bans for the most serious offences.
The proposals follow the Andrew’s Law petition, launched after the death of Andrew Cristillo, a father of three who was struck by a driver charged with dangerous and stunt driving.
In addition to heavy penalties for commercial vehicle drivers, the bill would impose new sanctions for dangerous and careless driving, including a lifetime license ban for anyone convicted of dangerous driving causing death and a 90-day immediate roadside suspension where police have reason to believe a person is driving dangerously.
Commercial vehicle fines for distracted driving would double to $1,000–$2,000 for a first offence, rising to $1,000–$4,000 for a second and $1,000–$6,000 for third and subsequent offences. The suspensions tied to those offences would escalate to seven, 14 and 60 days respectively. Minimum fines for speed limiter violations would rise from $250 to $1,000, including operating a commercial vehicle without a functioning limiter.
OTA supports measures
“The Ontario Trucking Association is primarily focused on supporting measures that increase highway safety and strengthen penalties for high-risk offenders and repeat violators of our traffic laws,” OTA chairman Mark Bylsma said in a release. He said the association is encouraged by meaningful increases to fines related to speed limiter enforcement, noting the devices are designed to protect the traveling public from speeding trucks.
Other proposed measures include enhanced road safety education for young and novice drivers; increased fines and longer impound periods for driving with a suspended license; and seven-day roadside suspensions for careless driving, extended to 30 days when careless driving causes bodily harm or death. Careless driving fines would rise to $1,000–$5,000, up from $400–$2,000.
The province is also exploring measures to support families of impaired driving victims, including consultations on requiring impaired drivers who cause the death of a parent or guardian to financially support the victims’ children. The release said that large trucks are involved in one in five roadway fatalities annually, while distracted driving contributes to one in seven fatalities.
Have your say
This is a moderated forum. Comments will no longer be published unless they are accompanied by a first and last name and a verifiable email address. (Today's Trucking will not publish or share the email address.) Profane language and content deemed to be libelous, racist, or threatening in nature will not be published under any circumstances.
I strongly disagree with more harsh penalties for the truck drivers without penalties for both the trucking companies and receivers that have fines for late delivery not also looking at possible jail time if someone is hurt
-
Penalties for the trucking companies Mr. Webster? We’re already heavily penalized now for things beyond our control. I can train and emphasize the need for load securement, pre-trips, safe driving, etc., but after the truck leaves the yard, his/her actions are out of my hands, yet my authority takes a hit if they fail to operate safely.
I agree with the increased fines. I drove ore for over 30 years. And have seen the increase of drivers with no regards for humans around them. It’s only part of the ME attitude that we live in now. But here’s my thoughts increase the punishment to all drivers not just trucking. I can’t tell you how many times a car has almost cut me off and then when I didn’t hit him, get in front of me and do brake checks. Stupidity at its finest. No cops ever around of course.
How about you put limiters on personal cars. They are the problem. Hope something important is in a truck that is delayed.
On time delivery is the problem. We need to put a stop to on time delivery and let the load arrive safely. Charge the shippers and receivers who don’t comply.
-
Well said I have seen too many crashes in the last 20 kms going to recovers and leaving after unloading in bad weather.
Here is a thought….how about MORE ENFORCEMENT!
There is not enough enforcement. Higher fines are not going to do a thing without enforcement. Having an officer ‘believe’ the driver was driving dangerously is never going to work because it is subjective. Make a law – if you change lanes, you must occupy that lane for at least 3 seconds before changing lanes again or get charged with dangerous driving. This is not subjective – a driver who crosses 3 lanes to catch the exit at the last moment should be accused and charged with dangerous driving.
I have no problem with this as long as the real offenders are getting the tickets , not like the other days eastbound scales Oakville where 3 officers fresh outta school handing out tickets for ridiculous things that really have nothing to due with safety just fines and threats that it could have been worst . I feel the need to say the officers were immigrants. Funny how the trucks they pulled were not ! There brothers , cousins just driving on by with junk
The Ontario government can’t even get the dead beat parents to pay and they think they are going to get a non parent to pay?
Now get rid of the illegal truck yards all over Ontario!
A lot of drives are not trained properly by their own company (safety team if they have one) and taken on as a driver wit only a month or more experience