New Ontario Legislation Would Help Make Halton’s Roads Safer, Protect Frontline Workers, Schoolchildren, and Motorcyclists

Proposed Changes will Include Measures to Cut Red Tape and Save Businesses and Taxpayers Time and Money

May 6, 2019

Queen’s Park – Your Government is protecting what matters most and putting people first with the Getting Ontario Moving Act, that, if passed, would enhance road safety, cut red tape so businesses can create jobs, and permit the uploading of responsibility for new subway lines in Toronto. The Getting Ontario Moving Act was introduced in the legislature Thursday. Some of the legislative changes in the bill include:

• Making learning to drive safer, and reaffirming to new drivers, that it is never safe to drive under the influence by introducing a new offence for any driving instructor that violates a Zero Blood Alcohol or Drug Presence requirement;

• Improving traffic flow and enhancing road safety on our highways by introducing tougher penalties for driving slowly in the left-hand lane;

• Protecting our children by giving municipalities the tools they need to target drivers who blow-by school buses and threaten the safety of children crossing roads to their school or home;

• Allowing motorcyclists to use High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes – a much safer part of the road for them; and,

• Strengthening laws that protect frontline, roadside workers from careless drivers.

Planned regulatory changes include:

• Amending motorcycle regulations to allow for high-styled handlebars; and,

• Allowing the use of advanced technologies for commercial motor vehicles that lead to reduced fuel consumption, lower emissions, and increased productivity within the trucking industry.

The government will also be launching two province-wide consultations – one to review speed limits and another to look at rules of the road for bicycles, e-bikes and e-scooters. Your government will also be saving Ontarians and businesses time, money and improving the customer experience at car dealerships by launching a digital dealer registration pilot program to allow businesses to apply for permits, plates and validation stickers online. This program will launch in Spring 2020 and will be developed through a six month, province-wide consultation in close partnership with ServiceOntario network providers as well as car dealerships, rental car, and fleet vehicle organizations.

“Your government is working hard to make life easier for people in Halton by getting them to work sooner, to home faster whether they travel by road or transit, and we are helping keep drivers safe and secure by improving laws and regulations on our highways.: ” – MPP Effie Triantafilopoulos