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Traffic Accidents

If You’re Involved In A Collision:

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  1. Keep calm.

  2. Check for injury and attend to anyone who is injured.

  3. Under the following situations, call the police         
     

    • Criminal activity involved in collision (e.g., impaired driving, stolen vehicle, assault)

    • Collisions involving Federal, Provincial, or Municipal vehicles (including public transit vehicles)

    • Collisions involving vehicles transporting dangerous goods

    • Collisions involving a person who is uninsured or is a suspended driver

    • Collisions involving damage to private, municipal or highway property

    • Collisions involving bicycles or pedestrians

    • Involved party refuses to provide required information

    • Collision involves injury or death

      Emergency: 9-1-1
      Non-Emergency: Toronto Region: (416) 808-2222
                               York Region: 1 (866) 876-5432                                                                  Peel Region: (905) 453-3311                                                                    Durham Region: 1 (888) 579-1520
       

All other collisions resulting in personal injuries or damage to property apparently exceeding $2,000 is to be reported to a Collision Reporting Centre. 

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  1. Take whatever steps are necessary to move the cars to the road edge to avoid traffic jams.

  2. If your vehicle is being towed, do not sign any blank forms. Clearly understand the fees and services being offered before your vehicle is towed.

  3. Draw a sketch of the accident scene, including: a diagram of the streets, what lane you and the other vehicle(s) were in, the direction of travel and any obstacles in the road.

  4. Record damage to all vehicles. Be especially observant of the damage to the other vehicle to avoid being held responsible for unrelated damage.

  5. Record estimated speed, the weather and road conditions.

  6. Exchange information with all drivers involved in the accident (phone numbers, names, addresses, licence numbers, insurance policy numbers, and details on the owner of the vehicle if different from the driver).

  7. Record names, addresses and phone numbers of all others involved in the accident and witnesses.

  8. Record any charges laid by police whether or not it is against you or any other persons.

  9. File an accident report with the police within 24 hours. Ask for a copy of the report and record the incident number.

  10. Record the names and phone numbers of investigating police officer(s).

  11. Keep all receipts and documents provided at the scene of the accident, and/or Collision Reporting Centre.

  12. Check any medical problems with your family doctor.

  13. Report your claim to your insurance company within 24 hours.

  14. Photocopy any documents sent to your insurer for your records.

Demerit Points

What Are Demerit Points?                          

  • Demerit points are added to your driver’s licence, if you are convicted of breaking certain driving laws. The rules are different depending on if you are a new driver or have a full licence.

  • You don’t “lose” demerit points on your driving record. You start with zero points and gain points for being convicted of breaking certain traffic laws.

  • Demerit points stay on your record for two years from the offence date. If you collect enough points, you can lose your driver’s licence.                                               â€‹

You can also get demerit points on your Ontario’s driver’s licence when you violate driving laws in: 

  • Other Canadian provinces and territories

  • The State of New York

  • The State of Michigan                                           â€‹

As a driver with a full G licence, if you have:  

  • 2 to 8 points: 
    You will be sent a warning letter
     

  • 9 to 14 points:
    Your licence could be suspended. You may have to attend an interview to discuss your driving record. At this meeting, you will need to provide reasons why your licence should not be suspended.

    If you have to attend an interview, you will get a letter (Notice of Interview) to notify you of the time, date and location of the meeting. If you do not attend, your licence could be suspended.

    The fee for a demerit point interview is $50 and must be paid in person at any ServiceOntario Centre. You can pay the fee when you receive the Notice of Interview or within 10 business days of attending the interview. Failure to pay the interview fee will result in the cancellation of your driver’s licence.
     

  • 15+ points:
    Your licence will be suspended for 30 days.

    When your licence is suspended, you will get a letter from the Ministry of Transportation. It will tell you the date your suspension takes effect and that you need to surrender your licence.

    If you do not surrender your licence, you can lose your licence for up to two years.

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As a new (G1, G2, M1 or M2) driver, if you have:   

  • 2 to 5 points: 
    You will be sent a warning letter.
     

  • 6 to 8 points:
    Your licence could be suspended. You may have to attend an interview to discuss your driving record. At this meeting, you will need to provide reasons why your licence should not be suspended.

    If you have to attend an interview, you will get a letter (Notice of Interview) to notify you of the time, date and location of the meeting. If you do not attend, your licence could be suspended.

    The fee for a demerit point interview is $50 and must be paid in person at any ServiceOntario Centre. You can pay the fee when you receive the Notice of Interview or within 10 business days of attending the interview. Failure to pay the interview fee will result in the cancellation of your driver’s licence.
     

  • 9 or more points:
    Your licence will be suspended for 60 days.

    When your licence is suspended, you will get a letter from the Ministry of Transportation. It will tell you the date your suspension takes effect and that you need to surrender your licence.

    If you do not surrender your licence, you can lose your licence for up to two years.



    All drivers face penalties if they violate the laws of Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act. Novice drivers can also receive “escalating” penalties – consequences that get stiffer with each similar offence – for breaking certain laws.

Escalating penalties can apply if you are:  

  • Convicted of breaking graduated licensing rules

  • convicted of a Highway Traffic Act offence that results in four or more demerit points (e.g., street racing, careless driving)

  • subject to a court-ordered suspension for a Highway Traffic Act offence that would have otherwise resulted in four or more demerit points

     

  • For a first offence: your driver’s licence is suspended for 30 days

  • For a second offence: your driver’s licence is suspended for 90 days.

  • For a third offence: you will lose your novice licence.  You will need to re-apply for your licence and start all over, taking all tests and paying all fees. You will also lose any time discount you earned, any time you were credited, and any fees you have paid.

     

  • If you hold a G1, G2, M1 or M2 licence, and are convicted of distracted driving, you’ll face the same fines as drivers with A to G licences. But you won’t receive any demerit points.

    Instead of demerit points you’ll face:

    • a 30-day licence suspension for a first conviction

    • a 90-day licence suspension for a second conviction

    • cancellation of your licence and removal from the Graduated Licensing System (GLS) for a third conviction

      To get your licence back you’d have to redo the GLS program

© 2017 by POA Legal Services. Authorized by the Law Society of Ontario to practice law. 

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