Even a common
speeding ticket can affect insurance rates
All traffic violations that are associated with Demerit Points will have an impact on insurance rates. Once 15 demerit points have accumulated the driver’s licence will be suspended first for 30 days and up to 6 months with any other accumulation of points. Demerit points remain on your driver’s record for two years from the offence date. Even a common speeding ticket can cost you up to 6 demerit points!
External Resources
• Ontario Court of Justice
• Ontario Highway Traffic Act
• Law Society of Ontario
• Ontario Ministry of Transportation
- improper right turn
- improper left turn
- improper opening of a vehicle door
- prohibited turns
- towing people — on toboggans, bicycles, skis
- unnecessary slow driving
- backing on highway
- failing to lower headlamp beams
- failing to obey signs
- failing to stop at a pedestrian crossing
- failing to share the road
- failing to signal
- driver failing to wear a seat belt
- driver failing to ensure infant/ child passenger is properly secured in an appropriate child restraint system or booster seat
- driver failing to ensure that a passenger less than 23 kg is properly secured
- driver failing to ensure that a passenger under 16 years is wearing a seat belt
- driving while holding or using a hand-held wireless communications or entertainment device
- driving while viewing a display screen unrelated to the driving task
- exceeding the speed limit by 16 to 29 km/hour
- driving through, around or under a railway crossing barrier
- driving the wrong way on a divided road
- driving or operating a vehicle on a closed road
- failing to yield the right-of-way
- failing to obey a stop sign, traffic control stop/slow sign, traffic light or railway crossing signal
- failing to obey the directions of a police officer
- failing to report a collision to a police officer
- failing to slow and carefully pass a stopped emergency vehicle or a tow truck with its amber lights flashing
- failing to move, where possible, into another lane when passing a stopped emergency vehicle or a tow truck with its amber lights flashing
- improper passing
- improper driving when road is divided into lanes
- improper use of a high occupancy vehicle lane
- going the wrong way on a one-way road
- crossing a divided road where no proper crossing is provided
- crowding the driver’s seat
- exceeding the speed limit by 30 to 49 km/hour
- following too closely
- failing to stop at an unprotected railway crossing (for bus drivers only)
- careless driving
- racing
- exceeding the speed limit by 50 km/hour or more
- failing to stop for a school bus
- failing to remain at the scene of a collision
- failing to stop when signaled or asked by a police officer
