Bill 37 explained in plain English
Protecting Vulnerable Road Users Act, 2018
Ontario legislature bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.
At a glance
Official Legislative Assembly of Ontario snapshot for 41st Parliament, 3rd Session. Representative vote breakdowns appear when the Assembly publishes an Ayes and Nays page for the bill.
Our plain-language take, written for civic education.
Source: By PoliticalData.ca
Bill 37, the Protecting Vulnerable Road Users Act, 2018, proposes to amend the Highway Traffic Act to create a new offence and penalties for drivers who cause death or serious bodily harm to vulnerable road users by violating certain traffic laws.
This bill, titled the Protecting Vulnerable Road Users Act, 2018, proposes to amend the Highway Traffic Act. It aims to create a new offence for drivers who cause death or serious bodily harm to certain individuals, referred to as "vulnerable road users," by breaking specific traffic laws. The bill outlines who qualifies as a vulnerable road user, lists the traffic laws whose contravention can lead to this new offence, and details the consequences for a convicted driver. These consequences include penalties equivalent to the original traffic offence, a mandatory probation order with specific conditions, and a suspension of the driver's licence during the probation period. The bill also addresses the procedures for laying charges, attending sentencing hearings, and the consideration of victim impact statements. Additionally, it makes changes to the Police Services Act and provides for regulations and commencement dates.
- Introduces a new offence for drivers who cause death or serious bodily harm to vulnerable road users by contravening specific traffic laws.
- Defines who is considered a "vulnerable road user," including pedestrians, cyclists, users of mobility devices, roadway workers, and certain emergency responders.
- Lists specific traffic law provisions that, if violated and contributing to the harm or death of a vulnerable road user, can lead to the new offence.
- Specifies that a conviction for this new offence carries penalties similar to the original traffic violation, plus a mandatory probation order and licence suspension.
- Mandates that probation orders include completing a driving instruction course and performing community service focused on driving safety.
- Requires drivers convicted of this offence to attend their sentencing hearing personally.
- Allows for victim impact statements to be considered during sentencing.
- Amends the Highway Traffic Act to include the new Part X.0.1 concerning harm to vulnerable road users.
- Amends the Police Services Act to update definitions related to law enforcement officers.
- Changes how proceedings for this new offence and related traffic violations are initiated.
- Provides for regulations to be made regarding prescribed individuals and driving instruction courses.
- Sets commencement dates for different parts of the Act.
- Drivers of motor vehicles.
- Pedestrians.
- Individuals on bicycles or motor-assisted bicycles.
- Individuals using wheelchairs or similar mobility devices.
- Individuals performing construction, maintenance, repair, or similar functions on a highway.
- Police officers, special constables, First Nations Constables, municipal law enforcement officers, and auxiliary police members acting in the course of their duties.
- Firefighters acting in the course of their duties.
- Individuals attending on a call for an ambulance.
- Emergency response workers acting in the course of their duties.
- Victims of collisions causing death or serious bodily harm.
- The courts.
- The Ministry responsible for the Highway Traffic Act (for regulations).
- Drivers have an obligation to avoid causing death or serious bodily harm to vulnerable road users by contravening listed traffic laws.
- Convicted drivers are subject to penalties, a mandatory probation order, and licence suspension.
- Drivers must complete a driving instruction course and perform community service as part of probation.
- Defendants have the right to attend their sentencing hearing.
- Victims have the right to present victim impact statements.
- The court has the power to compel attendance at sentencing hearings.
- The court shall consider victim impact statements when determining penalties.
- The Act comes into force six months after receiving Royal Assent, with specific subsections coming into force on a day named by proclamation.
- Convicted drivers are liable to penalties equivalent to the original traffic offence.
- Breach of a probation order can result in a fine of not more than $50,000.
- The cost of driving instruction courses is not specified.
- Community service hours are unpaid.
- A conviction for causing harm to a vulnerable road user is subject to the penalties and consequences of the contravened listed provision.
- A mandatory probation order of up to one year is imposed.
- The driver's licence is suspended for the duration of the probation order.
- Probation includes a requirement to complete a driving instruction course and perform 50 to 200 hours of community service.
- Proceedings are commenced by laying an information, not by filing a certificate of offence.
- Failure to attend sentencing hearings can lead to court action.
- Breaching a probation order can result in a fine of up to $50,000 and a licence suspension of up to two years.
- The bill does not specify the exact penalties for each individual "listed provision" that is contravened.
- The specific requirements for the driving instruction course will be detailed in regulations.
- The bill refers to individuals 'prescribed by the regulations' as vulnerable road users, meaning this category may be expanded by future regulations.
- The exact date of Royal Assent is not provided.
- The specific date for proclamation of certain subsections is not provided.
Adds a new Part (X.0.1) to establish the offence of causing harm to vulnerable road users, defines vulnerable road users, lists contravened provisions, and outlines penalties including mandatory probation and licence suspension. It also amends existing provisions related to sentencing and charging procedures.
Source: Section 1(1), Section 191.0.2, Section 191.0.3, Section 191.0.4, Section 191.0.5, Section 191.0.6, Section 191.0.7, Section 191.0.8, Section 2(2), Section 2(3), Section 2(4), Section 2(5), Section 2
Updates the definition of a police officer, special constable, First Nation Officer, municipal law enforcement officer, or auxiliary member of a police service within the context of the new offence related to vulnerable road users.
Source: Section 2(2) sub-subparagraph 5 i A
Specifies that proceedings for the new offence must be initiated by laying an information, not by filing a certificate of offence. It also references procedures for probation orders and compelling attendance at sentencing hearings.
Source: Section 191.0.4 (1), Section 191.0.5 (2), Section 191.0.5 (3), Section 191.0.7
Generated using AI from official bill text. Not legal advice. It is written by PoliticalData.ca for civic education, automatically checked and spot-reviewed before publishing.
Official textProcess Snapshot
Vote Summary
This bill is still active. We only show vote counts after the legislature publishes a recorded division.
No published representative vote breakdown
This bill is still moving through the process. When a recorded division is published, representative positions can be listed here.
Official sources
Status, sponsor, votes, and timeline on this page are drawn from these official legislative sources and public records. Each summary above is attributed to its own source.
How this data is sourced