On October 31, 2014, the Government of Ontario reintroduced the Safer Roads Ontario Act into the Provincial Legislature.

This is the most significant change to Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act in decades, and much of it is geared towards making the roads safer for all road users, with a specific eye towards improving cyclist and pedestrian safety.

Increased penalties for “dooring”, provisions permitting novel infrastructure like contraflow bike lanes and bicycle signal heads and a one-metre safe passing law requiring motorists to give cyclists one metre of space when passing are all vital elements of this Bill.

Combined with stiffer penalties for those that drive under the influence of drugs and alcohol and an increase in the penalty for distracted driving to up to $1,000 and three demerit points, this Bill will give Ontario some of the strongest road safety legislation in North America. For more information on the Bill, click here.