Canada Day Long Weekend is one of the busiest weekends of the year. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) will be on the lookout for aggressive drivers on Ontario roads, trails and waterways this long weekend. The OPP will watch for the following aggressive driving behaviours whether in cars, boats or ATVs that put other drivers at risk:
- Following vehicles too closely
- Improper lane changes
- Weaving in and out of lanes
- General disregard for traffic laws
The OPP will also watch motorists for:
- Seat belt compliance
- Distracted driving
- Impaired while driving, boating or off-roading
- Compliance with Move Over laws* (emergency vehicles)
- Use of boating safety equipment such as Personal Flotation Devices (PFD)
Traffic Violations and Insurance Implications
Minor tickets may only have a slight effect on your insurance rates, and in many cases, insurance companies will forgive you for your first one. Two or more tickets will typically lead to an increase in your premiums. The increase becomes greater with each additional offence. For example, a second ticket may result in a 10% increase in your premium, a third one may mean a 15% increase, and a fourth, 25%, etc. Repeat offences demonstrate bad driving habits and unsafe driving practices, which increases the risk you present to an insurance provider.
The severity of the offence also dictates the impact your ticket has on your auto insurance premiums. Major offences, such as speeding more than 50 km/hr over the speed limit or driving without insurance will increase your rates to a higher degree than minor offences. A serious offence, such as a conviction under the Criminal Code of Canada will likely double your insurance premiums or result in complete loss of your coverage.
Drivers with three tickets or more may have trouble finding an insurance company willing to provide them with insurance coverage, or may find that their current insurance company cancels or will not renew their policy. If you are unable to find auto insurance, you will be placed with a high risk auto insurer, such as Facility Association. Facility Association is an organization which ensures that everyone has access to auto insurance. Drivers who must find insurance through Facility Association will pay much higher auto insurance premiums.
Traffic tickets stay on your driving record for three years from the date of conviction not the date that you receive the ticket. In most cases, your first renewal following a traffic ticket is when you can expect to see an impact on your premiums.
Help keep the roads safe this Canada Day Long Weekend! Remember...a traffic violation or an at-fault car accident on your driving record will likely increase your car insurance rates.
Source:
OPP News Release - Aggressive Driving Hot on OPP's Radar this Canada Day Long Weekend
