TTAS

Hello Everyone,

It’s that time of year when small Cafés and Terraces open in Ottawa and the rest of Ontario. Naturally, this includes long sunny days, festivals, barbecues … and speeding.

Unfortunately, every year at this time of year in Ottawa and elsewhere in Ontario, speeding causes too many fatal accidents.

I often write about costly fines, demerit points, and license suspension … but the consequences caused by speeding go well beyond that. We are talking about death, severe disabilities, and amputations…

But make no mistake; the culprits are not always those we assume to be … in other words … kids! Speeding is committed by men and women of all ages. So stop laying the blame on others and assume your part.

This was my little message of the week. No promoting Traffic Ticket Advisory Services, no bla bla’s, just a small message to those at the Steering Wheel: just remember that you’re not alone on the road, so stop speeding!

Bonjour à tous.

Ça y’est, le petit café en terrasse s’en vient à Ottawa et dans le reste de l’Ontario! Et avec ça les longues journées ensoleillées, les festivals, les barbecues… et les excès de vitesse…

Et oui, c’est malheureux, mais tous les ans, à cette période de l’année à Ottawa, et ailleurs en Ontario, les excès de vitesse causent de trop nombreux accidents mortels.

Je parle très souvent d’amendes, de points d’inaptitude, de suspension de permis… mais les conséquences dramatiques provoquées par les excès de vitesse vont bien au-delà. On parle de morts, de graves handicaps, d’amputations…

Mais que l’on ne s’y méprenne pas, les fautifs ne sont pas toujours ceux auxquels on pense… sous-entendu… les jeunes! Les excès de vitesse sont commis par des hommes et de femmes de tout âge.  Alors arrêtons de jeter la faute sur autrui et responsabilisons nous!

Et voilà, c’était mon petit coup de gueule de la semaine. Pas de promotion de Trafic Ticket Advisory Services, pas de blabla, juste un message destiné aux fous du volant : Vous n’êtes pas seuls sur la route, alors pas d’excès de vitesse…

During the school year, motorists in Ottawa should be more vigilant when approaching school buses. The safety of our children is at stake … your demerit points as well!

What attitude should you have?

When you are driving near a school bus that is about to stop, The Ottawa Police recommends you do the following :

• When you approach a school bus coming from the opposite direction, stop your vehicle at a safe distance from the front of the bus;
• When you are behind a school bus, always stop your vehicle at least 20 meters from the rear of the bus;
• vDo not start moving your vehicle until the STOP sign is folded, the red lights stop flashing, and the bus is in motion.
• Registered vehicle owners can be charged if they illegally pass a stopped school bus whose red lights are flashing.

Please be aware that school bus drivers must always stop at crossings, but they are not required to activate the red lights behind the bus.

How many demerit points?

If you do not follow the rules above, you may receive a fine with demerit points and possibly risking imprisonment (especially in the case of a repetition).

First offence :

penalty of $ 400 to $ 2 000 and six demerit points.

Each subsequent offence:

penalty of $1 000 to $ 4 000, six demerit points, and possibly imprisonment for up to six months.

Resources related to this article:

• Ministry of Transportation: Information on Road Safety, School Bus Safety for Parents, Children and Motorists (demerit points, penalties and/or imprisonment).

To know the number of demerit points on your record, please contact the Ministry of Transport in Ottawa (613-224-6232)