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This summer, Ontario will implement changes to improve road safety for young and novice drivers. The changes were part of Bill 126.The most notable change is the extension of the province’s .00% BAC requirement for young drivers.

·         Effective August 1, Ontario drivers who are under 22 years of age, regardless of licence class, must have a .00% BAC when operating a motor vehicle.

The province will also introduce new sanctions for those who break the .00% BAC condition or other rules and conditions which apply under Ontario’s Graduated Licencing Program. (Also taking effect August 1, 2010).  

 A Novice Driver Escalating Sanction program will apply stiffer sanctions to young drivers who repeatedly violate the novice driver licence conditions or the .00% BAC requirements, or who have Highway Traffic Act convictions or court-order licence suspensions which carry four demerit points: o   First conviction or condition violation = 30 day suspension. (If driver holds a novice licence and a full licence – e.g. a Class G and a Class M1 – both licences are suspended).

o   Second conviction or condition violation =  90 day suspension. (Same sanctions apply if duel licences are held.)

o   Third conviction or condition violation = cancellation of the novice licence class. Driver will be required to re-apply for the novice class licence, and is responsible for repayment of fees, forfeit of existing fees and loses their driving experience credits. (If a full licence and novice licence are held, only the novice licence is cancelled.)

·         Novice and young drivers who are caught drinking and driving will receive an immediate 24-hour roadside licence suspension (previously a 12-hour suspension) and, if convicted, could face a fine of $60 - $500.

o   Additionally, young drivers will be subject to a 30-day licence suspension, while novice drivers and drivers who hold both a novice licence and a full licence will be subject to the Novice Driver Escalating Sanction program. 

Key Messages – New Sanctions

·         MADD Canada supports the introduction of these measures. We are especially pleased to the see the .00% BAC requirement extended to drivers until 22.

·         These measures will help young drivers get the skills and experience they need to stay safe on the road.

·         MADD Canada has actively promoted the need for provinces and territories to implement .00% BAC limits or extend existing limits to drivers until age 21.

 ·         We  recognize and applaud the province for the leadership role it has taken in helping to improve the safety of young and novice drivers.  

Key Messages - The Alcohol-Related Crash Problem Among Youth

MADD Canada is particularly concerned about crash rates and impaired driving among young and novice drivers.

• Motor vehicles are the leading cause of among 15 to 25-year-olds, and alcohol is a factor in 45% of those crashes.

• This age group constituted only 13.2% of the Canadian population in 2006, it accounted for 33.4% of the total alcohol-related crash deaths.
• Young and novice drivers usually lack both driving and drinking experience. They tend to be risk takers and are less cautious than their older counterparts. So, even in the absence of alcohol, young drivers are at a greater relative risk of crash than older, more experienced drivers. When alcohol is involved, young drivers are at far greater relative risk of death than older drivers with comparable BACs.
• Zero BAC requirements have been shown, both internationally and in Canada, have been shown to reduce the rates of alcohol-related crashes.