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You may also wish to visit the main FAQ
site for other questions and responses organized by category, or the
following road transportation related FAQ sites:
Driver and motor vehicle licensing falls under provincial or territorial jurisdiction.
For further information, you could consult their web site or the blue pages of your telephone directory in
the provincial/territorial section under "Transportation" or,
in Quebec, "Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec." 
Environment Canada issues weather forecasts and
advisories that could affect road conditions. For detailed road condition information, however,
contact your provincial or territorial transportation
office.
Who is responsible for road repair conditions?
Responsibility for road repair, construction and highway conditions depends on which level
of government has jurisdiction. The federal government is responsible for roads crossing
federal property, such as national parks. Otherwise, contact your municipal,
provincial or territorial transportation office.
It is important to make sure the vehicle conforms to Canadian standards. For information
on vehicles purchased in the United States, contact Registrar
of Imported Vehicles or call 1 888 848 8240 (from Canada or the U.S.)
for a copy of the leaflet
Importing a Motor Vehicle into Canada. For information on vehicles purchased in other
countries, call 1 800 333 0371 (from Canada) or
1 613 998 8616 (from the U.S. or
overseas).
On December 1, 1989, Canada became the second country after Norway to require daytime running
lights (DRLs) on all new passenger cars, multi-purpose vehicles, buses and trucks
manufactured for sale in Canada, in order to increase visibility and reduce collisions.
The combined effect of this regulation and the voluntary use of DRLs - in vehicles not
previously equipped with them - has been an estimated 11.3 per cent reduction in
daytime collisions involving two passenger cars, vans or light-duty trucks travelling in
different directions.
Transport Canada surveys, conducted in September of 2004 and 2005,
found 90.5% of all occupants of light-duty vehicles buckle up. In urban
communities, an estimated 91.1% of all occupants, while an estimated 86.9%
of all occupants of light-duty vehicles in rural communities use seat
belts. For more information view the Road
Safety site or call 1 800 333 0371.
Children need to use car seats that are the right size for their
weight, height and development. Transport Canada's ”Child
safety” Web site to see our materials on the four stages of safe
travel with children. For more information call the Transport Canada
information centre at 1 800 333 0371.
There's no question that air bags save lives. But these safety devices, which are designed
to supplement the protection provided by a motor vehicle's seat belts, can also cause
serious injury or even death under certain circumstances. Most air-bag systems have a very
low deployment threshold and open with explosive force at a speed of 300 km/h. You can
substantially reduce the risk associated with air bags by taking a few simple precautions:
General Guidelines:
- Always wear your seat belt.
- Adjust the seat belt properly:
- place the lap belt as low as possible over the hips - not over the abdomen;
- ensure the shoulder belt lies on the chest and over the shoulder; and
- do not leave any slack in the belt.
- Adjust the vehicle's front seats as far to the rear as possible to give the air bags as
much room as possible in which to inflate.
Guidelines for Children:
- Children under the age of 12 should be seated in the back of the vehicle.
- Make sure the infant restraint system, the child restraint system or the booster cushion
is appropriate to the child's height and weight.
- Always ensure that the restraint system is properly secured by the seat belt to the
vehicle.
- Secure the child properly in the restraint system.
- Never install a rearward-facing infant restraint system in a seat equipped with an air
bag.
- Never place the shoulder strap of a seat belt behind the child's back or under the arm.
Transport Canada works with other levels of government, the automotive industry, safety
councils, consumer groups and others to inform Canadians of both the benefits and risks
associated with air bags. For more information, call toll-free at
1 800 333 0371 or view
Transport Canada's brochure on
air bags.
Each year, the Fuel Consumption Guide, jointly produced by Transport Canada and
Natural Resources
Canada, rates new vehicles for fuel
efficiency and offers tips on ways to reduce fuel consumption. Consumers can request free
copies by writing to Canadian
Government Publishing, Ottawa, Ont. K1A 0S9, or by consulting the Personal
Vehicle Program's interactive online services or call toll-free at
1 800 387 2000.
To report or obtain information on motor vehicle safety-related defects or manufacturers'
recalls, you can search the Vehicle
Recalls On-Line Database or call the department's Road Safety and Motor Vehicle Regulation Directorate
toll free at 1 800 333 0510.
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