Statement to the Ontario Legislature (May 4, 2004)

(CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY)

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to introduce legislation, and to give details of a number of proposed regulatory initiatives, to protect our children and youth on Ontario's roads.

This package of safety measures, if passed, will save lives. It is another example of our government's commitment to build safe and strong communities.

The McGuinty government is committed to improving Ontario's road safety record and to remaining one of the three safest jurisdictions in North America.

We are especially committed to the safety of our children and youth on our roads.

Auto crashes are the leading cause of death and injury for children and youth.

And nearly one in five deaths on our roads is a young person 19 or under.

Our government wants to change that.

The legislation I am introducing today provides a three-pronged approach to deal with the critical safety issues that affect our children and youth.

If passed, these measures would deliver improved use of child car seats, greater school bus safety, and a stronger Graduated Licensing System.

I am very grateful to Pat Hoy, MPP for Chatham- Kent -Essex, who has campaigned tirelessly to improve school bus safety. This bill is a credit to his determination.

Mr. Speaker, we have two families that lost a child in school bus collisions here with us today.

And I'd like to thank them, for taking time from work and travelling to be with us today.

The legislation I am introducing today, if passed, would help prevent this tragedy from happening to any more Ontario families.

Today, our government intends to build on existing school bus safety.

A recent Transport Canada survey found that one-third of the school bus drivers sampled observed at least one incident of illegal passing each day.

We want to build on existing school bus safety by introducing legislation that would allow charges to be laid against the owner of a vehicle that is reported to have illegally passed a school bus.

In addition, we would develop regulations to ensure that drivers are constantly reminded of the seriousness of the offence. Our plan is to place warning signs on the back of every school bus in the province.

We are also proposing to adopt improved standards for new school buses. In practice, this would include:

• Safety-crossing arms to prevent children from walking into the bus driver's blind spot at the front of the bus;
• More emergency exit windows on the larger buses; and,
• Improved mirrors to reduce the bus driver's blind spots.

Mr. Speaker, the second part of our proposal consists of measures to protect the youngest, most vulnerable people in our society - infants, toddlers, and primary grade children.

Let me outline the facts.

Motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death and injury for children and youth.

An unrestrained child in a 50 km/hr crash would suffer the same consequences as a child being dropped from a third storey window.

We can help prevent this.

A child car seat can reduce the likelihood of death or serious injury by as much as 75 per cent.

That is why I propose strengthening the authority in the Highway Traffic Act that governs the use of child car seats.

If this bill is passed, we intend to put regulations in place to better protect children in motor vehicles. This would include adding demerit points to the penalty facing drivers who fail to follow infant and toddler car seat requirements.

We would also, if this bill passes, extend the legal obligation for drivers to use forward-facing child car seats for toddlers - beyond parents and legal guardians.

We would extend this obligation to other caregivers as well.

It's a sad fact that children using seat belts instead of booster seats are three and a half times more likely to suffer significant injury, and four times more likely to suffer head injury.

That's why we also intend to make booster seats mandatory.

Finally, we plan to further protect our young teenage drivers with this proposed legislation.

Our Graduated Licensing System has been a resounding success in reducing death and injury among novice drivers.

But, we can do more.

Ontario research shows that new teenage drivers are almost three times more likely to be involved in a fatal or serious collision when they are carrying teenage passengers. In fact, research shows the more teenage passengers, the higher the risk.

Thirty-one jurisdictions in Canada and the U.S. have some form of teenage passenger restrictions in effect.

Like these jurisdictions, we want to protect our young drivers.

That's why we want to amend the Highway Traffic Act to improve the Graduated Licensing System.

If passed, this measure would allow for regulations that would protect our youth by restricting the number of young passengers a driver aged 19 and under can carry during and after their first six months in the G2 level.

These restrictions would not apply if the G2 driver - aged 19 and under - is accompanied by an experienced driver in the front seat. In addition, family members would be exempt from this restriction, regardless of age.

Mr. Speaker, this is a measured and reasonable response that recognizes the mobility needs of all Ontarians. The proposed restriction is supported by sound research data and best practices in other jurisdictions.

In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, the measures I have proposed are about protecting our children and youth from death and injury.

And these measures are supported by health care professionals, police services, road safety groups and parents from across the province.

In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, let me state that this bill, if passed, will save lives. It is one more step in this government's commitment to improve our already impressive road safety record.

We owe it to our children to take this action.

I want to take this opportunity to invite my legislative colleagues on both sides of the house to support these new initiatives to protect our children and youth on Ontario's roads.

Thank you.

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Related Links - Legislative Assembly of Ontario: Bill 73, 2004, An Act to enhance the safety of children and youth on Ontario's roads

• First Reading (May 4, 2004)
• Second Reading as amended by the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs
  (debated June 1; October 21; November 1, 2, 24. Carried November 24. Ordered referred to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs. Considered December 1. Reported as amended December 1.)
• Third Reading debated December 2, carried on division December 6. Royal Assent December 9, 2004.