Canada's new policies for drivers starting January 1, 2016 will compel them to yield the entire road to crossing pedestrians. Out-of-town drivers who violate traffic and other road-related laws can no longer find refuge in provincial boundaries, as law enforcers now have the authority to charge them even if they had gone home to their own districts.
According to CTV News Kitchener, one of the new laws that took effect in Ontario at the very start of the new year obliges all motorists and drivers who have arrived at a crossway to yield the entire road to pedestrians who are crossing the said street. They must wait until all the pedestrians have crossed before driving through. In the past, the drivers would immediately rush down the crossway just as one or two pedestrians have made it to the other side. The other pedestrians who are still crossing would have to wait their turn as the laslt motorists come through, sometimes even ignoring their requests to pass through first.
But this new law actually requries drivers to give all pedestrians access to the entire road, and not just half of it.
This law was passed primarily to prevent crosswalk-related accidents. However, it does not apply to all intersections, but only those that are near schools. Still, many citizens welcomed the new law, saying that it will give drivers pause before rushing down the road. Some even believe that the new law will lessen text-related accidents on the road, as it will compel drivers to slow down and then do their texting once they are on full stop. The usual practice is to continue texting while driving, even through a crossway, which in turn increases the risks of accidents.
According to CTV News Canada, fine for violators who do not obey this law amounts to a range between $150 to $500. The same news agency also reports that Alberta is coming down hard on drivers who use their cellphones while on the road. Those caught actively using their telecommunication devices will be handed three demerit points and a $287 fine.
Meanwhile, the Toronto Sun says that the provincial government is taking a hard line on visitors who do not comply with driving laws. Municipallities in Toronto now have the power to chase after out-of-towners who run across a red light and/or who do not pay their traffic tickets.
