Transportation and Public Works Minister Gail Shea today announced the creation of a public education partnership with Insurance Bureau of Canada to promote the province’s new Graduated Driver Licensing Program.
The province, through the Department of Transportation and Public Works, and Insurance Bureau of Canada will be partnering on a public education campaign to increase awareness about changes to the province’s new Graduated Driver Licensing Program. The cost of the campaign is expected to be $60,000 and will be cost shared equally between the two parties.
“Everyone has an interest in seeing Island roads become safer,” said Transportation and Public Works Minister Gail Shea. “This innovative partnership between government and the insurance industry will support that goal by helping increase awareness about the new Graduated Driver Licensing Program.”
“Graduated driver licensing programs have been proven to reduce injuries and save lives. We are very pleased to be able to take the message to Islanders that the highways in PEI have become safer as a result of this legislation,” said Don Forgeron, Vice President, Atlantic, Insurance Bureau of Canada.
During the Fall 2006 Session of the Legislature, An Act to Amend The Highway Traffic Act was passed which lays out strict new guidelines for newly licensed drivers in the province. Among the changes made to the legislation to improve road safety were:
· Increased penalties for seat belt violations;
· A night time driving curfew between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.;
· Increased passenger restrictions;
· Zero Blood Alcohol Content (BAC);
· Moving the minimum age to begin driver education from fifteen and a half years of age to sixteen;
· Restrictions on use of personal communications devices such as cellular phones, mp3's and PDA’s while driving.