Bill 126 “Ontario Road Safety Act” Passes 3rd Reading in Ontario Legislature
“Greg’s Law” In Memory of Deceased Ontario Provincial Police Officer

Burlington, Ontario – April 22nd, 2009 – Eleanor McMahon, road safety advocate and Founder of the Share the Road Cycling Coalition (a provincial cycling advocacy organization) reacted positively to the news that Bill 126 (the Ontario Road Safety Act) passed third reading in the Ontario legislature yesterday. The Bill contains provisions targeting suspended drivers, with those caught driving under suspension to receive a penalty that will include a seven day vehicle impoundment. The amendments, known as “Greg’s Law” target motorists who drive suspended, unlicensed and therefore uninsured.

Said McMahon: “Suspended driver legislation now exists in seven provinces, with Ontario joining that number. This is a clear and very positive demonstration that the behaviours of motorists who drive while unlicensed are now part of Ontario’s road safety agenda. Driving is a privilege, and not a right. Our hope is that holding unlicensed drivers to account by impounding their vehicles will be a powerful deterrent – particulalry given the disregard for the law that driving unlicensed demonstrates.” “Greg’s Law” is named in memory of OPP Sergeant Greg Stobbart, Ms. McMahon’s husband, who was killed while on an off duty training ride on his bicycle on June 6, 2006 in Milton, Ontario just north of their home in Burlington. The driver who killed Sergeant Stobbart had a significant history of several infractions including 5 convictions for driving while his license was under suspsension.

Since his death, Ms. McMahon has advocated for this legislative change, and in particular, penalities like those found in Section 172 of the Highway Traffic Action (the street racing legislation) which provide for vehicle impoundment, fines and a further license suspension. Those penalities, which research has demonstrated act as a powerful deterrent are now part of “Greg’s Law”. Officials estimate that the Bill will come into force by the fall of 2010. “It is very gratifying to have this law passed in my husband’s memory. The knowledge that Greg’s Law will provide his colleagues in law enforcement with an important tool to keep suspended and unlicensed drivers off our roads, gives us a level of comfort that lives can be saved, and perhaps other families can be spared the kind of loss we suffered,” said McMahon.

“When they continue to drive, despite the removal of privilieges, these drivers are breaking the law, with their victims and their victim’s families left to pay the terrible social and human costs associated with the losses they cause,” she noted. McMahon underscored the issue by pointing to research from MADD Canada and the Ministry of Transportation (MTO):

• Over 500,000 drivers are currently listed as unlicensed and suspended by the Ministry of Transportation.
• Upwards of 75% of unlicensed drivers in the province, continue to drive (MTO).
• Approximately 2,000 fatal and injury crashes involving unlicensed drivers occur annually.
• One in 14 fatal crashes involves an unlicensed driver.
• Crashes involving an unlicensed driver are more than twice as likely to have a fatal outcome.
• Unlicensed drivers are one and a half times more likely to be at fault in the crash.

“I would like to thank Commisioner Fantino, and the members of the Ontario Provincial Police, for their leadership and support. I applaud Ministry Bradley and his officials, for ensuring that this important piece of legislation was tabled. The support by both Opposition parties was also helpful in ensuring speedy passage. It is wonderful to see all party support for this kind of important road safety initiative,” said McMahon.

“Ultimately, we will all be safer once this law is in force, and I look forward to working with law enforcement and the MTO in putting the regulatory framework in place to see Greg’s Law in force as quickly as possible,” McMahon added.

For information:
Eleanor McMahon Share the Road Cycling Coalition
www.sharetheroad.ca
Eleanor@sharetheroad.ca
(647) 201-2820 (cell)

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