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ca

Two solid lines painted on the pavement guide traffic away from fixed objects such as
bridge piers or concrete islands. Yellow and black markings are also painted on the
objects themselves as warnings.

Diagram 3-9

Summary
By the end of this section, you should know:

How pavement markings are used to control traffic

What the different colours and types of markings are used to indicate

Keeping Your Driver’s Licence

Ontario has a one-piece driver’s licence. The licence card has a photograph and
signature of the driver. All drivers in Ontario should have a one-piece licence card.

You must carry your licence with you whenever you drive.

Renewing your licence

You will get a renewal application form in the mail. Take the form into any
ServiceOntario Centre in the province. They are all equipped to take photographs. You
will be asked to sign the form, show identification, pay a fee and have your photograph
taken. You will get a temporary licence on the spot if your application and documents
are in order, and your permanent one will be mailed to you. You must carry it with you
whenever you drive and produce it when a police officer requests it.

If you do not get a renewal application form in the mail when your licence is due for
renewal, call the Ministry of Transportation. You are responsible for making sure you

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have a valid driver’s licence. You can renew an expired car or motorcycle driver’s licence
within one year without taking any tests.

If your licence has been suspended, cancelled or expired for more than three years,
you will be required to re-apply for a licence in Ontario and meet all the requirements
of graduated licensing, including passing all the required tests.

Senior drivers age 80 or older

Licensing

If you are 80 years of age or older, you are required to renew your driver’s licence every
two years. This renewal process helps keep seniors mobile and independent longer,
while helping to ensure that unsafe drivers are identified and appropriate actions are
taken.

You need to undergo a driving-record review, complete a vision test and participate in a
45-minute group education session, followed by an in-class screening component. The
in-class screening component will help better assess your fitness to drive.

You may be required to pass a road test before being able to renew your licence, or you
may be able to renew but will have to follow up and submit medical information. The
driver improvement counsellor at the group education session will discuss this with
you.

There is no charge for any of the licence-renewal requirements. You only have to pay
the licence-renewal fee.

More information that specifically addresses the concerns of senior drivers can be
found at Ontario.ca/seniordriver (https://www.ontario.ca/driving-and-roads/renew-g-drivers-
licence-80-years-and-over) . You can also call the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Contact
Centre at (416) 235-2999 or 1-800-387-3445.

How aging affects driving safety

Reduced vision - especially at night

Difficulty judging distance and speed

Limited movement and range of motion

Slower reaction time

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Difficulty focusing attention for long periods of time

Easily distracted

More time needed to understand what you see and hear

More use of prescription and/or over-the-counter drugs that may impair your
driving ability

What you can do to make your driving safer

Your health is a key factor in your ability to drive. To help you handle the demands of
safe driving:

Check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure current and new medications
will not negatively affect your ability to drive. Over-the-counter drugs and
combinations of drugs can also impair your driving.

Report to your doctor:

vision changes, unexplained dizziness or fainting spells;

frequent, chronic or severe pain.

Avoid driving if you're exper­iencing pain. It can decrease your ability to concentrate
and limit your movement behind the wheel.

Have your hearing and eyes checked regularly. Peripheral vision and depth
perception tend to decline over the years.

Your doctor can recommend an exercise program to improve flexibility and

maintain strength, which can help your ability to drive safely.

Consider taking a driver’s course to refresh your knowledge of the rules of the
road and safe driving practices.

Ask yourself: How’s my driving?

Take this test and ask yourself these questions:

Am I experiencing an increasing number of near collisions?

Have I been directly involved in minor collisions?

Do I have difficulty driving through intersections, judging distance or seeing

pedestrians, road signs or other vehicles?

Do I have difficulty concentrating while driving?

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Do I get lost or disoriented on familiar roads?

Do I have difficulty coordinating hand and foot movements?

Am I experiencing vision problems, especially at night?

Do I get nervous behind the wheel?

Do other motorists frequently honk at me?

Do family members express concern about my driving ability?

How important is driving to me?

Your answers to these questions can help you decide whether to continue to drive, cut
back to certain times such as daylight hours or stop driving altogether. If you have
checked one or more of the warning signs and are concerned about your driving ability,
talk to your doctor or family and get their opinions.

At the group education session, you will learn more about these topics on senior driver
safety.

Graduated licensing requalification

Under graduated licensing, novice drivers (Class G1, G2, M1 and M2) progress through
a two-step licensing process by completing the mandatory time periods for each level
and passing the required road tests. Except for Class M1, novice drivers have five years
to complete the graduated-licensing process. However, if your Class G1, G2 or M2
licence is about to expire and you have not completed the process, you can regain or
retain the same class of licence by passing a test and paying the five-year licensing fee.
This is called “requalification.” A notice is sent to Class G1, G2 and M2 drivers before
their licence expiry date to inform them of their options. If you do not complete the
graduated-licensing process or requalify before your G1, G2 or M2 licence expires, you
will not have a licence to drive, and you must reapply for a Level One licence.

Changing your name or address

You must tell the Ministry of Transportation within six days of changing your name or
address.

You will need a new licence when you change your address. You can change your
address on the ServiceOntario (http://www.serviceontario.ca) website or you can take
the change of information to a Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office, or mail it to
the Ministry of Transportation, P.O. Box 9200, Kingston, ON, K7L 5K4. The ministry will

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send you a new licence. When you get it, destroy your old licence and carry the new
one with you whenever you drive.

When your name changes, you need a new licence. Take the documents you must
show (see the chart on this page) and your current licence to a Driver and Vehicle
Licence Issuing Office. A new photograph will be taken. You will get a temporary licence
to use until your permanent licence is mailed to you. Carry it with you whenever you
drive.

There is no charge for getting a new licence because you change your name or
address.

The chart on this page shows the documents you will need to change the name on
your driver’s licence.

Driver’s licence laws

It is illegal to:

Lend your licence

Let someone else use it

Use an altered licence

Use another licence as your own

Have more than one Ontario driver’s licence

Use a fictitious or imitation licence

The demerit point system

The demerit-point system encourages drivers to improve their behaviour and protects
people from drivers who abuse the privilege of driving. Drivers convict­ed of driving-
related offences have demerit points recorded on their records. Demerit points stay on

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your record for two years from the date of the offence. If you accumulate too many
demerit points, your driver’s licence can be suspended.

New drivers - demerit-point system for Level One and Level Two drivers

Two or more points

You will receive a warning letter.

Six points

You will receive a second warning letter encouraging you to improve your driving
behaviour.

Nine or more points

Your licence will be suspended for 60 days from the date you surrender it to the
Ministry of Transportation. You can lose your licence for up to two years if you fail to
surrender your licence. After the suspension, the number of points on your record will
be reduced to four. Any extra points could again bring you to the interview level. If you
reach nine points again, your licence may be suspended for six months.

As a Level One or Level Two driver, you will have your licence suspended if you
accumulate nine or more demerit points during a two-year period.

Note: If you are a novice driver and are convicted of violating any novice condition, an
offence that is associated with four or more demerit points or receive a court-ordered
suspension for an offence that would have resulted in four or more demerit points, you
will receive the appropriate penalty and Novice Driver Escalating Sanction licence
suspension. However, the demerit points will be recorded as zero on your record, and
will not be counted towards the accumulated demerit point system.

Fully licensed drivers - demerit-point system for fully licensed drivers

Six points

You will receive a warning letter recommending that you improve your driving skills.

Nine points

You will receive a second warning letter encouraging you to improve your driving
behaviour.

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15 points

Your licence will be suspended for 30 days from the date you hand over your licence to
the Ministry of Transportation. You can lose your licence for up to two years if you fail
to surrender it. After the suspension, the number of points on your driver’s record will
be reduced to seven. Any extra points could again bring you to the interview level. If
you reach 15 points again, your licence will be suspended for six months.

Table of offences
Here are the demerit points for driving offences.

Seven points

Failing to remain at the scene of a collision

Failing to stop for police

Six points

Careless driving

Racing

Exceeding the speed limit by 40km/h or more on roads with a speed limit of less
than 80km/h

Exceeding the speed limit by 50 km/h or more

Failing to stop for a school bus

Five points

Driver of bus failing to stop at unprotected railway crossing

Four points

Exceeding the speed limit by 30 to 49 km/h

Following too closely

Failing to stop at a pedestrian crossover

Three points

Exceeding the speed limit by 16 to 29 km/h

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Driving through, around or under a railway crossing barrier

Driving while holding or using a hand-held wireless

communications/entertainment device or viewing a display screen unrelated to the
driving task

Failing to yield the right-of-way

Failing to obey a stop sign, traffic light or railway crossing signal

Failing to obey traffic control stop sign

Failing to obey traffic control slow sign

Failing to obey school crossing stop sign

Failing to obey the directions of a police officer

Driving the wrong way on a divided road

Failing to report a collision to a police officer

Improper driving where road is divided into lanes

Crowding the driver’s seat

Going the wrong way on a one-way road

Driving or operating a vehicle on a closed road

Crossing a divided road where no proper crossing is provided

Failing to slow and carefully pass a stopped emergency vehicle

Failing to move, where possible, into another lane when passing a stopped
emergency vehicle

Driving a vehicle equipped with a radar detector

Improper use of a high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane

Two points

Failing to lower headlight beam

Improper opening of a vehicle door

Prohibited turns

Towing people - on toboggans, bicycles, skis, for example

Failing to obey signs

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Failing to share the road

Improper right turn

Improper left turn

Failing to signal

Unnecessary slow driving

Reversing on a highway

Driver failing to wear a seatbelt

Driver failing to ensure infant passenger is secured

Driver failing to ensure toddler passenger is secured

Driver failing to ensure child is secured

Driver failing to ensure passenger under 16 years is wearing seatbelt

Driver failing to ensure that a passenger under 16 years is sitting in a seat that has
a seatbelt

Other ways to lose your licence

To promote safe driving for Ontarians, the province has some of the strictest driving
laws regarding driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs, careless driving, “stunt”
driving, fleeing police or a collision scene, and so on. In addition to lengthy suspensions
for driving offences, court sanctions can quickly escalate and include fines in the tens
of thousands of dollars, reinstatement fees, licence restrictions, lifetime bans and even
jail time.

Suspensions
Your licence may also be suspended for the following reasons:

Escalating sanctions

Zero Blood-Alcohol Concentration (BAC) for novice and young drivers

Medical suspension

Discretionary HTA suspensions

Mandatory HTA suspensions

Administrative driver’s licence suspension (ADLS)

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"Warn-range" suspension

Novice-driver violations

Escalating sanctions
Escalating sanctions for novice drivers would apply if any of the following occurrences
have taken place within a five-year period:

Any repeat violations of novice restrictions

Any HTA convictions for four or more demerit points

Court-ordered licence suspensions.

Sanctions – dangerous behaviours

The risk of a fatality or serious injury is almost five times greater for vehicles crashing
at 50 km/h or more above the posted highway limit. The increase in risk is even greater
on roads with lower posted limits. For example, on roads with a posted limit of 60 km/h
or less, the risk of a fatality or serious injury is almost eight times greater for vehicles
colliding at 50 km/h or more above the posted limit.

Other types of aggressive driving include:

driving 40 km/h or more above the posted speed limit on roads with a speed limit
less than 80km/h

driving 50 km/h or more above the posted speed limit

driving a motor vehicle to prevent another vehicle from passing

intentionally cutting off another vehicle

street racing

driving stunts

The use of a connected nitrous-oxide system while driving on a highway is prohibited.

For information on the regulation, you can visit the ontario.ca/laws

(https://www.ontario.ca/laws) .

Sanctions – careless driving

Careless driving is defined as: driving without due care, attention or without reasonable
consideration for other persons using the highway; and, anyone, who chooses to put

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themselves and other road users at risk by driving aggressively or carelessly. If

convicted of careless driving a driver can face tough sanctions.

Zero Blood-Alcohol Concentration (BAC) for novice and young

drivers
All drivers who are 21 and under, regardless of licence class, must have a BAC level of
zero when operating a motor vehicle. You will receive a 24-hour roadside driver-licence
suspension. If convicted, you could face a fine and at least a 30-day licence suspension.

Medical suspension
All doctors must report the names and addresses of everyone 16 years or older who
has a condition that may affect their ability to drive safely (for example, a stroke, heart
condition or dizziness, among others). Doctors report this information to the Ministry
of Transportation, and it is not given to anyone else. Your driver’s licence may be
suspended until new medical evidence shows that the condition does not pose a safety
risk.

Mandatory HTA suspensions

Your licence will be suspended:

If you fail to stop for a police officer (a minimum of five years)

If you don't pay a traffic fine when ordered by the court

Administrative driver’s licence suspension (ADLS)

Your licence will be suspended immediately for 90 days:

If your BAC is more than 80 milligrams in 100 millilitres of blood (.08)

If you fail or refuse to give a breath, blood, oral fluid or urine sample when asked
by police

If you fail or refuse to perform physical co-ordination tests or submit to a drug

evaluation when required by police

This suspension takes effect at the roadside or police station. It is separate from any
criminal charges or prosecution that may also take place.

"Warn-range" suspension

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Drivers who register a blood-alcohol concentration in the “warn range” of .05 to .08
pose an immediate danger to themselves and other road users. If caught driving in the
warn range, you will receive an immediate driver’s-licence suspension at the roadside:

For three days for a first occurrence

For seven days for a second occurrence, and you must undergo a remedial alcohol-
education program

Substantially increased penalties and sanctions for each subsequent occurrence

Novice-driver violations
Drivers holding novice licences must follow the specific rules for their class of licence. If
you violate any of the graduated-licensing conditions, your licence will be suspended
for 30 days. This suspension takes effect from the time you surrender your licence. You
can lose your licence for up to two years if you fail to hand it over.

Your licence will be cancelled:

If you fail a driver’s re-examination

If you don't pay your reinstatement fee or administrative monetary penalty

following a suspension

If your cheque for licence fees are not honoured by your bank

If you voluntarily surrender your driver’s licence to the Ministry of Transportation,

or it is surrendered or returned by another jurisdiction

Criminal Code suspensions

You will receive a one-year licence suspension the first time you are convicted of a
Criminal Code offence. Subsequent offences increase substantially to a lifetime ban
from driving. Convictions will remain on your driver’s record for a minimum of 10
years.

Your licence will be suspended if you are convicted of any of the following Criminal
Code offences:

Driving or having care and control of a vehicle, including boats, when your BAC is
more than 80 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood (.08)

Refusing to submit to a breath test for alcohol

Failing or refusing to provide a breath sample for roadside testing

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Failing to remain at the scene of a collision

Dangerous driving

Causing death or bodily harm by criminal negligence

Failing to stop for police

Remedial measures
There are several types of remedial measures. The mandatory Back on Track program
is for all drivers convicted of impaired, driving-related Criminal Code offences. Drivers
with more than one “Warn Range” conviction will be required to take an alcohol-
education and/or alcohol-treatment program. If your driver’s licence has been
suspended because of a Criminal Code conviction, your licence will remain suspended
until you have completed the remedial requirements.

Driving under suspension

You may not drive, under any circumstances, when your licence is suspended. If you
are convicted of driving while your licence is suspended for an HTA offence, you will
face fines in the thousands of dollars. The court may order you to spend up to six
months in jail. Six months will be added to your current suspension as well. If you are
found guilty of driving while your licence is suspended for a Criminal Code offence, you
can face fines of tens of thousands of dollars and spend time in jail.

Driving while prohibited

This is a prohibition order under the Criminal Code conviction. When convicted of
violation of the order, you will get a suspension of one year for a first offence or two
years for a subsequent offence.

Vehicle-Impoundment Program
To counter the dangerous behaviours of impaired and suspended driving, Ontario law
includes seven-day vehicle impoundments for:

Drivers operating a vehicle while under a Highway Traffic Act licence suspension

Drivers caught without a required ignition interlock

All drivers caught with a BAC over .08, or who fail/refuse to comply with a demand
made by a police officer under the Criminal Code of Canada

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If you are caught driving while your licence is suspended for a Criminal Code offence,
the vehicle you are driving will be impounded for a minimum of 45 days. These vehicle
impoundments apply regardless of whether the vehicle is borrowed from a friend or
family member, business, employer or is rented. The owner of the vehicle must pay the
towing and storage costs before the vehicle will be released.

The Vehicle-Impoundment Program makes vehicle owners responsible for ensuring

that anyone driving their vehicles is not suspended. People loaning or renting their
vehicles can verify that a driver’s licence is valid by phone or online. You can also get a
driver’s abstract at any Service Ontario centre. There is a nominal fee for each licence
checked.

Impaired driving
Driving when your ability is impaired by alcohol or a drug is a crime in Canada. Your
vehicle does not have to be moving; you can be charged if you are impaired behind the
wheel, even if you have not started to drive.

In circumstances involving possible impairment by a drug or a combination of alcohol

and a drug, police can require a driver to:

provide breath samples

perform standardized field sobriety tests

conduct a drug recognition evaluation

provide oral fluid, urine or blood samples for screening

If you fail or refuse to comply with any of these demands, you will be charged under
the Criminal Code.

If you are 21 years of age and under, you must not drive if you have been drinking
alcohol. Your blood- alcohol level must be zero.

For more information on impaired driving measures in Ontario, please visit the Ministry
of Transportation website at: www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/impaired-driving.shtml
(http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/impaired-driving.shtml)

Alcohol
The police can stop any driver to determine if alcohol or drug testing is required. They
may also do roadside spot checks. When stopped by the police, you may be told to

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blow into a machine that tests your breath for alcohol, a roadside screening device, or
perform physical co-ordination tests.

If you cannot give a breath sample or it is impractical to obtain a sample of breath, the
police officer can require you to provide a blood sample instead. The police may also
require a driver to provide, blood, oral or urine samples. If you fail or refuse to comply
with any of these demands, you will be charged under the Criminal Code.

Drugs
Criminal Code and HTA sanctions apply to drivers impaired by alcohol or a drug. In
circumstances involving possible impairment by drugs or a combination of alcohol and
a drug, police can require a driver to perform physical co-ordination tests and submit
to a drug evaluation, and then require a driver to provide blood, oral fluid or urine
samples. If you fail or refuse to comply with any of these demands, you will be charged
under the Criminal Code.

Some drugs that your doctor may prescribe for you and some over-the-counter drugs
can also impair your driving. Here are some points you should remember:

If you use prescription medicines or get allergy shots, ask your doctor about side
effects such as dizziness, blurred vision, nausea or drowsiness that could affect
your driving.

Read the information on the package of any over-the-counter medicine, including

cold, allergy, sedative or diet pills.

Drugs and any amount of alcohol together can have dangerous effects, even
several days after you have taken the drug.

Do not take a chance; ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Consider the consequences of impaired driving

Ontario leads the way in combating drinking and driving through some of the toughest
laws and programs in North America, including licence suspensions, heavy fines,
vehicle impoundment, mandatory alcohol-education and -treatment programs, and the
ignition interlock program. Depending on your number of prior convictions, you may
be fined up to $50,000, serve time in jail or lose your licence permanently.

For impaired driving that causes injury or death, the penalties are even more severe. If
you are convicted of impaired driving causing bodily harm, you may be sentenced to

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up to 14 years in prison. Impaired driving causing death can carry a sentence of

imprisonment for life.

If you drink and drive and are involved in a collision, you may suffer serious injury or
cause serious injury to someone else. Your insurance company might not pay for your
medical or rehabilitation costs, or for the damage to your or the other person’s vehicle.
Your insurance costs may rise significantly. You may have to pay substantial legal costs
as well.

If you are required to drive on the job, a licence suspension could mean losing your
employment.

Driver-improvement interview
The other remedial-measures program is for drivers convicted of non-drinking-and-
driving-related Criminal Code offences who have no previous alcohol-related
convictions. You must undergo a Ministry of Transportation driver-improvement
interview.

If you have not completed the driver-improvement interview by the time your Criminal
Code suspension expires, your licence will be further suspended until you have
completed the remedial requirements.

This program also applies to Ontario residents convicted of driving-related Criminal

Code offences in any other province of Canada, or equivalent offences in the states of
Michigan and New York, as well as to out-of-province drivers who are convicted in
Ontario.

Summary
By the end of this section, you should know:

Your responsibility to maintain a valid driver’s licence with the most correct and
up-to-date information

How the demerit-point system works for new and fully licensed drivers

The driving offences that result in a loss of points upon conviction.

Common circumstances where your licence can be cancelled or suspended

How alcohol and drugs affect your ability to drive

The consequences that can result from a suspended licence including

reinstatement fees, remedial measures, ignition interlock, vehicle impoundment
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