Transportation and Public Works Minister Gail Shea today advised the public that recent changes to strengthen the Highway Traffic Act, passed during the Fall 2004 Session of the Legislature, will come into effect on February 5, 2005.
“The Highway Traffic Act is an important tool in helping set and maintain safety standards on Island roads,” said Shea. “The changes to the Act that were recently passed will help improve road safety for Islanders in a number of important areas.”
Among the changes coming into effect are amendments which will stiffen penalties for seatbelt violations by drivers and passengers, enable an immediate 24-hour roadside suspension when a driver refuses a breathalyzer; and set out duties and penalties for drivers approaching or passing a stopped emergency vehicle.
Under the new legislation, the fine for a seatbelt violation will range from a minimum of $100 to a maximum of $200 as well as a penalty of 3 demerit points. This applies to drivers and passengers and represents a doubling of the existing fine.
Drivers who refuse a request from a peace officer at a roadside stop to provide a breath sample will now be subject to an immediate suspension of their drivers license for a 24-hour period. In effect, refusing to provide a breath sample for a breathalyzer will have the same effect as blowing a ‘warn’ or ‘fail’ on the breath sample. This change will harmonize provincial law with the existing Criminal Code of Canada statutes in this regard.
The new legislation will also bring changes with respect to the duties of drivers approaching or passing a stopped emergency vehicle, such as police cars, ambulances or fire trucks. Motorists will be required to slow to half the posted speed limit when approaching a stopped emergency vehicle that has its lights flashing. Motorists will also be required to move into another lane to pass a stopped emergency vehicle when safety permits. Failure to reduce speed when approaching an emergency vehicle will bring a minimum fine of $100 and a maximum fine of $200. Failure to move into another lane to pass a stopped emergency vehicle when safety permits will bring a minimum fine of $100 and a maximum fine of $200.
“At the end of the day, these new measures will be further tools to assist law enforcement and emergency services agencies in helping improve safety on Island roads. I hope that these tougher penalties for seat belt violations, impaired driving and unsafe conduct around emergency vehicles will ultimately assist in the reduction of serious injuries and fatalities from highway accidents,” noted Shea.
An Act To Amend the Highway Traffic Act was tabled in the Legislature on December 7, 2004. The bill passed Third Reading on December 15, 2004 and received Royal Assent on December 16, 2004. The new provisions of the Act come into effect on February 5, 2005.