After a speeder killed toddler Bianca Leduc while she was playing in her baby-sitter’s backyard in a residential neighborhood west of Montreal, the Quebec government has decided to rush through the mother of all traffic safety bills. CTV reports the details: hand-held cell phones will be banned, the legal BAL (blood-alcohol level) drops from 0.08 to 0.05 (bringing it inline with other Canadian provinces), those caught under the influence will have their license suspended for three months (up from one month), 15 intersections will get red light cameras, all new drivers will have to take driving lessons and operate under probationary permits (not just those under 25), speeding fines in residential zones will double, license points for speeders will double and there’ll be a new offense called “major speeding” (which leads to an automatic license suspension).
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Except for the red light cameras, these items sound reasonable. A long time ago, I read that getting a driver’s license in Germany was a very intensive process akin to getting a pilot’s license in the US. Perhaps that was an exaggeration, but I have always thought that getting a license in the US was awfully easy.
US and Canadian drivers license standards are WAY too lax. I’ve been through getting a British driving licence, and while it is not as tough (or as expensive) as a German license, it is VERY difficult compared to getting a US (and presumably, Canadian) licence. 56% of testees in the UK fail, and 70% of repeat testees fail! (I passed 1st time, despite the huge handicap of already having been driving in the US for 15 years – had to unlearn and relearn, you see…)
We need tough tests like that. Not more **** cameras. Otherwise, I have to agree with everything Quebec is doing.
I just came back to Montreal from 5 months in Switzerland, and I have to say that in comparison, Quebec holds drivers responsible for virtually nothing. Although I enjoy opening the throttle on my Ninja as much as anyone else does, I have to admit that the proposed changes are long past due. That said, a public outcry like this occasionally happens when a child is killed – police are out en masse ticketing for the tiniest infractions (but only in certain key areas, usually near where the accident happened) and then in a few weeks everything goes back to normal. Basically it’s an excuse for the police to make a cash grab. What they should really do, though, is can the whole “no fault” insurance thing. Under the current system, a driver’s insurance rates will go up based on claims made; not at-fault accidents/damage incurred. What this means is that drivers of large, beat-up vehicles can basically do whatever they want without consequence.
How was the toddler hit while playing in the BACK yard?
They should also change the law where pedestrians do NOT have the right of way. Stereotypically, Quebec has the worst drivers in Canada. I am not saying that is TRUE, I’m just saying. Just as I know plenty of smart Newfie’s I am sure there are plenty of safe drivers in Quebec.
No, I wouldn’t say that Quebec has the worst drivers in Canada. They do, however, have by far the RUDEST drivers. One drive through Montreal during rush hour would end all arguments. Quebeckers do excel at speeding and driving wrecklessly; whenever I see someone speeding or doing something stupid on I-87 down in NY, they always have Quebec plates. Hell, sometimes it’s even me – I always have to readjust my attitude and aggression when I drive out of province.
As for the pedestrians, I say that it’s the way it is for a reason. There’s so much jaywalking going on that if cars stopped for pedestrians, they’d never get anywhere. At least this way, the jaywalkers know to get out of the way.
JuniperBug:
As a native Montrealer and one who has experienced all four Montreal rush hours (South Shore, East End, West Island and Laval) in both directions, here is what I’ve learned: If you’re not the rudest, most aggressive and least courteous driver on the road, you’re not getting to where you need to go – EVER. Rudeness only begets more rudeness.
An 18 year old, driving like a lunatic through a residential neighbourhood caused this tragedy. And where is he now? Released on $7000 bail.
You would think someone would be asking for strict punishment for the driver. But no, the problem is us. Does everyone feel better now.
Absolutely. The only way to solve the problem is to change the culture. Abroad I’m the calmest, most law-abiding driver/rider. Inside the city, I experience road rage nearly on a daily basis. Quebec traffic brings out the worst in people. That’s why it’s time to change the laws, and possibly even more importantly, the education.
We all like to bash the lawyers, but if this idiot’s parents lost all their savings in a law suit it would likely save more lives than all the red light camera’s in the world.
Especially since those camera’s increase fatalities rather than reduce them. (Actually, it’s not the camera, but the way other things in the area get manipulated by the government to increase the revenue from fines like shorter yellows and greens, poor signage, and not fixing the intersection design.)
Great proposals providing the enhanced enforcement is concentrated in high accident locales, school zones, and residential areas where this tragedy occurred.
Civil servants being civil servants hell will freeze over first. They will be positioned to generate maximum revenue with minimum effort.
The only way to solve the problem is to change the culture. Abroad I’m the calmest, most law-abiding driver/rider. Inside the city, I experience road rage nearly on a daily basis. Quebec traffic brings out the worst in people. That’s why it’s time to change the laws, and possibly even more importantly, the education.
Hey, that reminds me of NJ. Seriously, after having driven in both Montreal (twice) and NJ on a regular basis, I think NJ is worse.
Paris used to be by far the worse. After the new mayor Delanoe went in with promises to ease up traffic, he fined heavily, encouraged public transportation, made bikes accessible to the larger public, and generally discouraged use of cars in the city. Traffic has improved, tempers have improved, pollution has decreased, and Paris was recently voted in the world’s top 10 Best quality of life cities.
All it takes is one politician who’s not afraid to face down lobbies and infuriated individual users.
Too many cars, too few roads, too easy to get a license. Maybe we have to remember that driving is not a right but a privilege.
I was hell on wheels when I was eighteen, had my license revoked, paid through the nose for insurance and it still didn’t slow me down. I got a `76 Chevette to do 140 km/h and it had manual steering and brakes for pete’s sake!
What did? Buying a house, having kids, becoming part of a community and finally understanding that: (A) driving faster and dumber never got me somewhere more quickly or if it did it was a matter of minutes (B) driving faster and dumber adds fuel, repair and maintenance costs (C) driving faster and dumber just makes you look dumb…
I’m with johnny Canada on this. Bail for this idiot?All the laws in the world won’t bring that little girl back.
In Ontario we have lots of laws,over 08% ? 3 month instant suspension,conviction = 1 yr suspension and an onboard breathilizer.Blow over 02 and your car won’t start.
Lots of drinking and driving still goes on.People drive under suspension all the time.No insurance?no problem its a 5000$ fine.The legal aid lawyer will get you off.
If your daddy is rich you can kill a cabbie racing pops Mercedes.The judge will give you a stern talking to.
We don’t need any more laws,we need to enforce the ones we got
mikey, I agree with you 100%. The new 'racing' law which revokes your license and can cost you between $2000 and $10,000 if you are going 50km/h is a good start. From what I read in the paper, at least the police are being strict in enforcing it. BUT, also reading in the paper (The Star) is a long sob-story article about how this 'street racing' law is a 'catch-all' for people who choose to drive like morons but are NOT racing. Seriously, in this article, the first example was this guy who was pulled over doing 50+ over on his way to church. He didn't think it was fair that he had his license taken away and had to pay such a hefty fee because he wasn't racing. I mean he was on his way to church, he must be a good person. Another one of the excuses given was that modern cars are so quiet and ride so smooth that the sweet innocent soccer mom can't tell she's hurtling down the road exessivly fast. I want to shake these people, and the people at The Star for publishing this garbage. So do the OPP apparently, as their response was basically 'if you are passing absolutly everyone on the road, you are probably going too fast and we are going to nail your ass to the road.'
I don’t know what tougher licensing requirements has to do with this. People speed because they want to. If we could figure out how to do something about the stupidity factor, then we’d be making progress.
i dont speed on residential streets or in town but i do on the freeway. i cant believe how many people drive in the fast lane at the posted next to a car doing the same speed so you cant get around them. in our state slower traffic should yield to the right lane but they dont most the time, causing the car behind me to ride my ass and if a deer jumps out or something we’re all grouped together , its going to be more dangerous than someone speeding. ive never smashed up my car speeding (drive 80-85 in a 65 mph) its inattentive driving that kills. i hate adding more laws but i think if your in an accident while on a cell phone they should throw the book at you.
in our state slower traffic should yield to the right lane but they dont most the time
When I first started highway driving, my theory was that people rode in the left lane because it was usually smoother than the right lane. I figured trucks took their toll on the right lane, esp the joints, and the left-most lanes were usually the newest.
My idea was that either they should build the left lane with slightly raised joints so that drivers would be encouraged to pull back to the right after passing or do better lane maintenance on the right lanes and let the left lanes wear to a naturally less desirable condition.
The driver should be charged with murder and removed from society for a long time, if not permanently. Driving a car in the manner that he did is no different than walking around firing a gun in random directions; we know his actions are going to kill someone eventually, and the fact that it’s “accidental” is irrelevant.
Where is the legal blood alcohol limit .05%? As far as I know, it’s .08% in western Canada. I disagree with lowering the legal limit because I don’t think impairment is a problem below .08%. From what I’ve seen, the real drunks that can’t control their cars are way over .08%. We need to nail the serious offenders hard, not those who had a couple glasses of beer or wine at supper but who still drive responsibly.
My favorite is the “fake” freeway. On the west side of Calgary there are several of these where you would swear you are on a freeway, but the limit is like 40km/hr. To add to the trick, they don’t do a good job with the speed limit signs at all.
They got my wife speeding on one of those traps, boy was she mad. And yes, the road could easily handle 90km/hr. Luckily she wasn’t going that fast.
I quite frequently drive from London, Ontario to Montreal, and when I cross the Quebec border I feel like I have just pulled on to a track. In Montreal you really don’t want to be the first one to stop at a red light, chances seem pretty good of being rear ended. My wife is from Montreal and learned to drive there, I don’t know how she never gets caught here in London for her rolling stops, although I suppose it contributes to the longevity of her brakes. As she has said the way she learned to drive, road signs in Montreal are just general guidelines.
Montreal is the first city I have driven through and witnessed road rage fights. One trip through, and witnessed 3 fights. People started by yelling at each other, cutting each other off etc, and it escalates to both cars pulling over and the drivers going at it. It was a bizarre trip for sure, and have never seen anything like it anywhere else I have driven. Jersey may have bad drivers, I have driven through many times, but I have yet to see a fight break out at the side of the highway (of course that might be a gun thing)
Congratulations on The Truth about cars in publishing content that helps make a difference. You have just gotten a new fan :-)
Every time a wreckless driver takes the life of an innocent victim, most of us are appalled and outraged. We point a finger at wreckless driving, drunk driving, speeding… We accuse laws, drivers, parents, society, tv, hollywood… Who’s responsible? Who’s to blame?
What if we decided to take responsability rather than point of finger? What if you could personally take part in preventing the next tragedy?..right here, right now… in the next fifteen minutes…by simply opening your mind to an alternate way of viewing the problem, by being imputable and taking a few minutes to make a difference…
To view the full article visit http://johnsmilesinitiative.blogspot.com/2007/11/little-bianca.html and hopefully take a few minutes to save some lives.