The Top 10 Traffic Tickets in Ontario
Whether you’re a veteran driver who’s been on the road for decades or a freshly minted driver who has yet to graduate to a full licence you have to obey the rules of the road. But when you’re actually out there it’s pretty easy to feel like you can get away with bending the rules every now and then.
Don’t.
You might not get caught 99% of the time, but on that 100th time you could get stopped by police or worse, cause a collision. Either one of those will result in fines, loss of demerit points and of course, raised insurance premiums.
If you find that you have one of these 10 common bad driving habits, I hope seeing what the consequences are will keep you from getting into trouble in the future!
1. Speeding (3 - 6 Demerits depending on how fast you were going)
I get it. People are busy, it’s only 5 km/h over the limit and everyone does it. The fact is that when you’re going faster it’s harder to react to emergencies. If you're unable to break or maneuver out of the way and you do end up crashing into something that 5 km/h could be the difference between life and death.
2. Improper turns (2 demerits)
We’ve all been there. You missed your turn so you pull a U-turn even though that sign back there said not to. This is a big no-no. Always obey signs and always turn from the correct lanes if you want to avoid being slapped with a fine or by another vehicle.
3. Distracted driving (3 Demerits)
A.k.a. talking or texting while you drive. This is a huge priority for law enforcement right now. Fines are higher than ever and you can be sure they’re on the lookout for drivers who aren’t keeping focused on the road.
4. Careless driving (6 Demerits)
The definition for this is kind of vague, but the message is clear: if you are driving in a way that endangers others, you’re being careless. Being charged will definitely impact your insurance and fines are set higher than almost any other offence.
5. Tailgating (4 Demerits)
Also called “Following too closely”. When you do this you risk not being able to stop in time to avoid colliding with the vehicle in front of you. This isn't only a traffic ticket, it can also cost hundreds or thousands of dollars in vehicle damage and repair costs.
6. Failure to signal (2 Demerits)
I see this happen all the time and I don’t get it. We can’t read your mind. You need to indicate what you’re doing in your car so that drivers in the cars around you can react accordingly. It’s only a couple demerit points, but not signaling can lead to so much worse such as a collision.
7. Failure to wear seat belts (3 Demerits)
The driver must not only have their seat belt on but they are also responsible for making sure anyone else in the car who is under 16 years old wears their seatbelt too.
8. Running a red light (3 Demerits)
This is self explanatory but red means stop and amber means prepare to stop. If stopping won’t leave you in the middle of the intersection, do it. Running a light can cost a few hundred dollars in fines.
9. Failure to obey road signs (2 Demerits, 3 for Stop signs)
More or less the same as above, but penalties aren’t as steep.
10. Failing to yield (3 Demerits)
Being a good driver is sort of about having manners. Rushing through a four-way stop or refusing to let pedestrians begin crossing before you turn are not examples of good manners and it’ll cost you.