Licence will be suspended as soon as the first recurrence in terms of cell phone use while driving

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The minister of Transport André Fortin filed Friday, the changes it wishes to make to the highway safety Code.

Kathryne Lamontagne

Friday, December 8, 2017 10:46

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Friday, December 8, 2017 14:44

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Suspension of the driving licence to the first recurrence in terms of cell phone use while driving, challenge more difficult tickets issued by photo radar devices, the curfew for young drivers, the overall increase of fines : the minister of Transport André Fortin filed Friday, the changes it wishes to make to the highway safety Code.

Electronic devices behind the wheel

All electronic devices – cell phone, iPod, tablet, etc – will be banned behind the wheel. In the event of breach, the licence will be suspended for 3, 7 or 30 days, depending on whether a first, second, or third recurrence over a period of two years.

The range of a fine pass from 80 to 100$ to 300$ to 600$. “We believe that the penalties are severe enough for there to be a direct impact on the use of cell phones behind the wheel,” commented the minister Fortin. The electronic device can be seized.

Interestingly, cyclists are subject to this prohibition and may face fines ranging between$ 80 and$100.

The motorist will continue to use his phone as a GPS if it does not fit in his hands, as well as the screen integrated into the vehicle if it comes to the assistance of the conduct.

More findings of infringement by the radar photos

The number of tickets issued by photo radar devices should be back to normal, and their challenge will be more difficult. The department proposes to include a “legal presumption” so that these violations are consistent, unless the driver pinned to be able to prove the contrary.

In short, the department takes up with the policy that prevailed before the judgment of the Court of Québec, who believed that the evidence of the crime was inadmissible as based on “hearsay”, but standardizes everything. “What we basically said is that the photo radar operating in Quebec”, summarises the minister Fortin.

Remains to be seen if this measure will pass the test of the courts. The issuance of statements of offence should continue to roll in slow motion by the adoption of the law, he acknowledged.

Ignition interlock for life for repeat offenders of drinking and driving

The ignition interlock éthylométriques will be mandatory for any repeat offender in relation to alcohol and driving and at life.

The at-fault driver will still be able to apply to a judge and ask to get rid of the alcohol after 10 years, if it has not accumulated more than two convictions in the matter.

Each year, 16% of offenders are re-offending for driving with drinking and driving. “Someone who is driving drunk, twice, has no place on the roads of Quebec”, stated the minister Fortin.

Curfew for young drivers

Learner drivers – all drivers and motorcyclists – will have a curfew of midnight to 5 am. A motorist age 19 or less will not be able to carry one passenger aged 19 years or months, between midnight and 5am, during the six months following the issue of a probationary licence. During the following six months, a maximum of three young people 19 years and under, will take place in the vehicle during the same period. The members of the immediate family of the young driver are exempt from this measure, which seeks to limit the number of friends in the vehicle.

In the case of a contravention of these regulations, the fine will range between$ 200 and$ 300 and comes with four demerit points, either all points of a probationary licence.

Young people aged 16 to 24 years accounted for 9% of licence holders but are involved in 20% of collisions.

Winter tires from 1st December

The winter tires will be mandatory from the 1st of December and not the 15th of December. The obligation remains until march 15.

The measure is expected to bring gains to the point of view of road safety, although no statistics demonstrates currently the responsibility of the tyres in road accidents.

Cyclists better protected

The corridor of safety of 1 or 1.5 meters now extends to cyclists who ride on the public road, the shoulder or the bike lane if it is not separated by a physical development.

A motorist who arrives in front of a group of cyclists escorted should make sure to have adequate space to work around it. If it is behind, it will have to wait for the authorization of an officer of the peace before his passing.

The pedestrian report

The pedestrian currently has a priority to the pedestrian walkways, as soon as it is committed on the street. The measure being considered dangerous, the pedestrian will now have to indicate their intention to cross before starting. It will not engage once its signal will be well received by the motorist.

Pedestrians walking on the carriageway or the hard shoulder will also benefit from the security corridor.

Fines more salt in the wound

Set between$ 15 and$ 30 fines to cyclists who break the law will now be between$ 80 to$ 100, but they will no longer have demerit points. Any other user of vehicle non-motorized – skates, scooter, skateboard, etc – is subject to this penalty.

The current fines of$ 100 to $ 200 will be doubled also for the motorists who do not respect the speed limit in school zone or who do not comply with the orders of a flag or a peace officer.

Not wearing the seat belt ? Fines of 80 to 100$, spend 200$ and 300$.

Parking in a space reserved for persons with disabilities will constitute a sanction similar.

Other measures

• The peace officers will now be able to force the tow vehicle because of climatic conditions and, in response to the kerfuffle of highway 13 last march.
• The period of use of the booster seat is extended until the child is 145 cm or he reaches the age of 9 years.
• Developers will be able to initiate pilot projects of autonomous vehicles on the roads of Quebec, for a maximum period of five years.
• Motorists who fail to remove snow or ice their car before hitting the road will now be subject to fines.
• The municipalities will be able to identify, by regulation, and with the help of signs, a street or shared vélorue.

A few figures:

• The last major overhaul of the Code of the road safety dates back to 1986. This modernization offers 83 new measures stemming from the results of an extensive study conducted by the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec in 11 québec cities.
• There were 5.4 million vehicles on the roads in 2006, compared to 6.4 million ten years later. There were 3.6 million riders in 1995, 4.2 million today.
• In 2011, pedestrians accounted for 16% of deaths on the roads of Quebec. This number climbed to 18% in 2016. Among motorcyclists, the rate was 8% in 2011, 15% in 2016.
• Between 2011 and 2016, there is a 26% decrease in the number of deaths on the roads, and 27% in the number of serious injuries.