New child booster seat law now in effect

News Release
MTO

The Ontario government is making Ontario’s roads safer, especially for children and young people through new measures that are now in effect, Transportation Minister Harinder Takhar announced today.
“Infant, child and booster seats are proven life savers. They can reduce the risk of death and injury by up to 75 per cent. That’s why all drivers are now required to make sure young passengers are safely secured in these seats.”
Bill 73, which passed in December, includes several new road safety measures which focus on young drivers and children. As of September 1, 2005:
- There are new passenger limits for teenage G2 drivers
- Infant, child, and booster seats are now mandatory for all drivers
- Vehicle owners, not just drivers, can now be charged if their vehicle illegally passes a stopped school bus with its overhead red lights flashing.
“Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death and injury for children and youth,” said Takhar. “That’s why we are making every effort to improve our children’s safety from the time they are toddlers to their teens.”
“This will help protect the ‘forgotten children’ who are too big for child car seats and too small to be properly protected by seatbelts,” said Emile Thérien, President, of the Canada Safety Council.
These new measures under Bill 73 are one more step in the Ontario government’s commitment to create safer, stronger communities.

THE FACTS ON ROAD SAFETY FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH

Auto crashes are the leading cause of death and injury for children and
youth. That’s why, on December 6, 2004, the Ontario legislature passed
Bill73, An Act to Enhance the Safety of Children and Youth on Ontario’s
Roads. New measures now in effect will better protect our young people several
ways:

New Booster Seat Rules

- Parents and caregivers must properly secure young passengers in an
infant, child car seat or booster seat. Booster seats are required for
children if they are:
- Under the age of eight or
- Weigh more than 18 kg but less than 36 kg (40-80 lbs.) or
- Stand less than 145 cm (4 feet 9 inches) tall.
- Drivers who do not comply face two demerit points plus a $110 fine.

A properly used child car seat can reduce the likelihood of injury or
death by 75 per cent.

New Rules for Teenage Drivers

- For the first six months, teenagers in level 2 of Ontario’s graduated
licensing system (G2) can carry one passenger age 19 and under,
between midnight and 5 a.m.
- For the rest of their time in G2, or until they turn 20, teenage
drivers can carry up to three passengers age 19 or under.
- The passenger limit does not apply if there is a fully licensed driver
with four or more years of experience in the car, or if the teenage
passengers are family.

New teenage drivers are almost three times more likely to be involved in
a fatal or serious collision if they are carrying teenage passengers. The more
teenage passengers, the higher the risk.

New Laws to Improve School Bus Safety

- Vehicle owners face fines of up to $2,000 when their vehicle passes a
stopped school bus with its red lights flashing.
- Since January 1, 2005, the back of every school bus must have a decal
reminding drivers of the maximum fine.
- School buses built after January 1, 2005, must have added safety
features, such as a crossing arm, to keep children out of the bus
driver’s blind spot at the front of the bus.

Disponible en français

www.mto.gov.on.ca

For further information: Danna O’Brien, Minister’s Office,
(416) 327-1815; Bob Nichols, Communications Branch, (416) 327-1158

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