Ottawa, Ontario – As of July 1, Ontario is implementing the Moving Ontarians More Safely Act–the MOMS Act–which includes stricter penalties for stunt driving, as well as heightened measures for commercial-truck safety, protection for cyclists and road workers and more oversight on the towing industry.
Officials say that truck safety will improve with new enforcement tools for commercial drivers who are behind the wheel longer than the permitted number of hours.
The new Towing and Storage Safety and Enforcement Act will set standards for consumer protection and roadside behaviour, and penalties for non-compliance; require tow operators and vehicle storage operators to be certified under the new act and meet the requirements.
The MOMS Act will also target those with a need for speed.
When driving in an 80 km/h zone, travelling 40 km/h over that limit will catch you a stunt driving charge. Formerly, you’d need to be travelling 50 km/h over before getting hit with the fine.
The penalty for stunt driving and street racing used to be a seven-day licence suspension and seven-day vehicle impoundment. That now rises to a roadside 30-day licence suspension, and your vehicle’s in the pound for 14 days.
The MOMS Act aims to protect road workers on emergency scenes or construction sites as MTO (Ministry of Transportation) enforcement officers are now allowed to close a road if necessary for an emergency. Automated control devices, known as automated flaggers, can be used in construction sites, so workers don’t have to stand in the road and stop traffic.
The act will also introduce cameras on the sides of streetcars to catch drivers illegally passing.
