November 25, 2013

New Legislation to Increase Safety for Families and Communities

Highway Traffic Act Amendments Enhance Road and Pedestrian Safety

An Act to Amend the Highway Traffic Act will receive second reading in the House of Assembly today (Monday, November 25). These amendments will increase road safety for drivers, passengers and pedestrians. The changes come into effect three months after they are passed.

“As a government, we want to ensure that anyone travelling on our roads is doing so safely and responsibly. These changes are in response to a number of enforcement concerns raised by our police agencies, and will put further protective measures in place to keep drivers safe.”

- The Honourable Dan Crummell, Minister of Service NL

The amendments will address issues that have become more apparent and represent a higher risk, particularly with increased traffic flow in recent years. These amendments include safe stopping of emergency vehicles, prohibiting slow moving vehicles on the highway and clarity around the definition of a school zone. A full list of the amendments and further details can be found in the backgrounder below.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to supporting important social programs, strong communities and the health and well-being of children, families and seniors.

QUICK FACTS

The Provincial Government has added a number of provisions to the Highway Traffic Act that will increase road safety for drivers, passengers and pedestrians.

that will increase road safety for drivers, passengers and pedestrians. Slow-moving vehicles will be prohibited from travelling on a highway where the speed limit is greater than 80 km/h, except when working in snow clearing, road maintenance or road/sidewalk construction, or under special permit for agricultural or forestry areas.

These amendments will come into effect three months after they are passed, early in the spring of 2014.

The Highway Traffic Act regulates drivers and the use of motor vehicles on roadways, aiding in the enforcement of safety standards for the travelling public.

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Media contact:

Vanessa Colman-Sadd

Director of Communications

Service NL

709-729-4860, 682-6593

vanessacolmansadd@gov.nl.ca

BACKGROUNDER

Amendments to the Highway Traffic Act

The amendments to the Highway Traffic Act are:

Emergency vehicles will be required to stop at all red lights and stop signs to ensure it is safe to proceed through an intersection, supporting existing policies of police and health authorities;

The number of occupants in a vehicle will not exceed the number of seatbelts available and passengers will be prohibited from being transported unsecured in the rear bed of a pickup truck;

The reportable accident damage level will be increased from $1,000 to $2,000 to reflect inflationary factors;

A more specific definition of a school zone will be adopted to clarify the area where speeding fines are doubled; and,

Slow-moving vehicles will be prohibited from travelling on a highway where the speed limit is greater than 80 km/h, except when working in snow clearing, road maintenance or road/sidewalk construction, or under special permit for agricultural or forestry areas.

2013 11 25 4:50 p.m.