February 24, 2005

Speeders in construction zones targeted in proposed legislation

By Grant Cameron

staff writer

The province is cracking down on motorists who speed through construction zones.

Sweeping new legislation introduced Monday would double the fines for drivers who break the rules and apply three demerit points to their records.

The legislation, called the Transit and Road Safety Bill, was introduced by Transportation Minister Harinder Takhar.

Harinder Takhar

The legislation contains a number of recommendations and, apart from construction workzones, it is aimed at improving safety at pedestrian crossings, as well as reducing congestion on roads and highways across the province and increasing public transit ridership.

Takhar said almost half of all fatal collisions involve speed and the legislation, if passed, will crack down on drivers who speed in construction zones, and fail to stop or yield the right of way to pedestrians at crossings.

Figures released by Takhar show that between 1999 and 2003, there were 11,725 collisions in provincial and municipal highway workzones.

Fifty people died between 1999 and 2003 and more than 3,000 were injured in collisions in the workzones.

In 2002, 873 people were killed and 84,192 were injured in collisions around the province.

Of these collisions, 84 per cent happened on municipal roads.

“While Ontario’s roads are the safest in North America, they are not safe enough. The transit and safety bill introduced today would protect the most vulnerable people in our society . . . by targeting some of the worst driving offences.”

Over the past five years, 15,000 people have been killed or injured crossing the road.

In Toronto, 42 of the city’s 74 road-related deaths in 2003 involved pedestrians.

Research shows a driver is almost six times more likely to kill or injure someone while travelling more than 30 km/h over the speed limit.

In addition to the fines, the legislation would, if passed:

• Clear the way to designate and enforce High Occupancy Vehicle lanes to encourage carpooling;

• Allow land to be dedicated for new carpool lots and transit stations during planning stages;

• Improve transit commute times by allowing transit vehicles to pre-empt traffic signals to lengthen a green light or change a red light to green sooner.

Other elements of the bill, if passed, would:

• Create offences for flying vehicle parts;

• Improve daily commercial vehicle inspection standards;

• Allow for the use of studded tires on vehicles in Northern Ontario;

• Allow for faster clearance of highway incidents by clarifying police powers to remove, or order the removal of vehicles and debris.

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