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- Drive Clean *
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- Highways
- High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes
- Private Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office Opportunities
- Yield to Bus
FAQ Home | Drivers FAQ | Vehicles FAQ | Safety FAQ | Other FAQ
Boating
- What are the new boating safety regulations?
- I just bought a boat. What are some of the things I need to know about boating in Ontario?
- How do I register my boat and where do I obtain application forms for licensing?
What are the new boating safety regulations?
New boating safety regulations have been introduced by the federal government to help reduce the number of boating fatalities and accidents that occur each year. Highlights of the changes include the introduction of:
- minimum age limits for operating power boats above 10 horsepower and personal water craft;
- mandatory operator competency requirements, being phased in over 10 years, for operators of powered boats used for recreational purposes; and
- new minimum safety equipment and operation standards affecting all boats.
The new boating safety regulations are administered by Transport Canada. For more information, visit the Office of Boating Safety website or call the Boating Safety Infoline at 1-800-267-6687.
I just bought a boat. What are some of the things I need to know about boating in Ontario?
Before heading out, you need to know the laws, regulations and local rules. These generally include: collision regulations, small vessel regulations, local rules concerning safe speeds, vessel separation/right of way, and key laws that apply to the operation of all vessels, regardless of size. In addition, there are criminal code laws concerning impaired or dangerous driving and other activities.
To navigate safely, you should know and understand many things. For example: Canadian buoyage system, the use of marine charts, compasses, navigation lights and signals, plotting courses, positioning methods, navigational references such as notices to mariners, sailing directions and the use of electronic navigational equipment.
How do I register my boat and where do I obtain application forms for licensing?
Please use the links below to view the federal government website for information on registering your boat and obtainng application forms:
Service Canada:
Or, you can call 1-800-O-Canada for more information.
Highways
- Highway 407 ETR*
- My car is damaged because of construction on a provincial highway. How can I get reimbursed for my repair costs?
- How do I report potholes on our highways?
- How can I participate in the ministry's Adopt-a-Highway program?
- What do I do if I plan to put up a sign near a provincial highway or if I need access to ministry property?
- Where can I get application forms and information?
- I'm interested in promoting my business through the blue and white tourism signs I've seen along the highway? Where can I get more information?
My car is damaged because of construction on a provincial highway. How can I get reimbursed for my repair costs?
Please mail your claim showing the location, date, time and nature of the incident along with other supporting documentation such as estimates, bills, etc., to the address below. If you wish to fax your claim, you must follow through with a mailed copy.
Ministry of Government Services
Risk Management
& Insurance Services
700 University Avenue, 6th Floor
Toronto, ON
M7A 2S4
Tel: 416-314-3445
Fax: 416-314-3444
How do I report potholes on our highways?
If you wish to report the location of potholes or other highway maintenance problems, contact the ministry district office in your area. Please note that the ministry is responsible for the maintenance of provincial highways (401, QEW etc.). For local or regional roads, contact the municipality involved. See the Blue Pages for the telephone numbers.
To file a complaint about potholes or general road
conditions, please call MTO INFO at
416-235-4686 or toll-free at 1-800-268-4686.
For up-to-date information on current highway
conditions due to weather or construction, please call Road Information toll
free at 1-800-268-4686
How can I participate in the ministry's Adopt-a-Highway program?
Volunteers (individuals or groups) agree to adopt a section of highway right-of-way and keep it clean. If you wish to participate in the program complete a special agreement with the ministry and in return you'll be recognized by a ministry sign acknowledging your efforts.
Ontario's adopt-a-highway program is a public service program designed to have volunteers pick up litter along certain provincial highway rights-of-way. Through participation in the program, Ontario residents can make a meaningful and personal contribution to a cleaner environment.
Please note that only volunteers who have received the required ministry safety training, either from a ministry representative or from the authorized group representative and have signed the agreement are allowed to participate in the program.
For more information, contact the ministry's district
office in your area or contact MTO INFO toll
free 1-800-268-4686
What do I do if I plan to put up a sign near a provincial highway or if I need access to ministry property?
To maintain the efficiency of the provincial highway system and to ensure public safety, all development next to highways must comply with standards and requirements set by the ministry and perhaps the municipality. These standards affect many aspects of development, including the availability of highway access, the location and design of a building entrance, drainage, the location and size of signs, etc.
Understanding ministry requirements and procedures will prevent unnecessary delays. Therefore, it is important that you discuss your proposal with the Corridor Management Officer in your ministry district office.
Depending on the nature of your proposal, you may require one or more of these permits:
Entrance permits: new entrances to the highway, change in use of existing entrances (field use to residential use), relocation of existing entrances, paving of existing entrances, temporary entrances, change in ownership, change in design, altering any existing entrance.
Building/land use permits: new building and structures, additions to existing buildings, wells and septic systems, underground and above ground storage tanks, fences and hedges, trees, shrubs, gravel pits, parking areas.
Sign permits: All signs within 400 m of the highway (including temporary and portable signs) require ministry permits.
Encroachment permits: All work and installations, municipal or private, within the highway right-of-way (including landscaping, placing of culverts or pipes, paving, etc.) require encroachment permits.
General policies and guidelines: No signs of any sort are allowed on ministry rights-of-way (i.e. real estate, garage sale, etc.) Headwalls at entrances are not allowed under any circumstances. It is an offence to deposit any snow or material on the highway (i.e. Pushing or blowing snow across roadways may result in a collision. The person responsible for depositing the material can be held responsible.) All mailbox posts on ministry rights-of-way must be within a maximum diameter of six inches, and must conform to ministry regulations. No other form of post or support is allowed on ministry rights-of-way.
Where can I get application forms and information?
Information and necessary forms are available from
your local ministry district office. For more
information, please contact MTO INFO toll
free at 1-800-268-4686 or 416-235-4686.
I'm interested in promoting my business through the blue and white tourism signs I've seen along the highway? Where can I get more information?
For more information about the "tourism oriented direction signs", please call 1-888-263-9333 or 905-851-1322.
Yield to Bus
- What is Yield to Bus?
- Why is it needed?
- Who recommended this initiative?
- Don't we have something like this already?
- What is the legislative basis for this initiative?
- When does the law come into effect?
- Will the new law apply to all municipalities?
- Does any other jurisdiction have Yield to Bus legislation?
- Which buses does the new law apply to?
- Does it apply to school buses?
- How does it work?
- What's a bus bay?
- What if I drive a taxi or a truck, do I have to yield to buses as well?
- What is the penalty for not yielding to buses?
- How do I obtain more information?
What is Yield to Bus?
Yield to Bus is a new provincial law designed to improve transit flow and make transit service more reliable and efficient. The new law requires drivers to yield the right-of-way to buses leaving bus bays to merge with the traffic.
Why is it needed?
It is very difficult to keep a bus on schedule when other drivers don't let the bus back into the travel lane. The new law makes it easier for buses to merge back into traffic and helps to keep buses on schedule. This law improves transit service reliability, especially during rush hours.
Who recommended this initiative?
The Yield to Bus legislation was introduced by the Province to help improve transit flow in urban areas. It was requested by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA), and a number of individual municipal transit systems.
Don't we have something like this already?
No. A number of transit systems (TTC, OC Transpo, Mississauga Transit, etc.) had voluntary programs whereby drivers were encouraged to let the bus back in as a courtesy. The new law makes it mandatory.
What is the legislative basis for this initiative?
The requirement to yield to buses leaving bus bays is provincial legislation, contained in Section 142.1 of the Highway Traffic Act (HTA).
When does the law come into effect?
Section 142.1 of the HTA is in effect as of January 2, 2004.
Will the new law apply to all municipalities?
The new law applies to every municipality in Ontario that has transit service with the Yield to Bus sign on the rear of their buses.
Does any other jurisdiction have Yield to Bus legislation?
Yes. Yield to Bus legislation has been implemented in a number of jurisdictions in North America. In Canada, it has been the law in Quebec since 1982 and in BC since 1999. In the USA it has been implemented in a number of states including Washington State (since 1993), Oregon (since 1998) and Florida (since 1999).
Which buses does
the new law apply to?
The new law applies to municipal transit and to GO Transit buses displaying this sign on the rear, above the left turn signal.
Does it apply to school buses?
No. The current requirement for stopping for school buses is unchanged and will not be affected by the new law.
How does it work?
When a bus displaying the Yield to Bus sign signals its intention to leave a bus bay by activating the left turn signal, drivers approaching from the rear in the lane adjacent to the bus bay are required to slow down or stop to allow the bus to re-enter the lane, unless it is unsafe to do so.
What's a bus bay?
For the purpose of this law, bus bays are bus stops that require buses
to exit from and re-enter an adjacent lane of traffic. They include mid-block
indented bays, the indentation in the sidewalk immediately before and after
intersections, and bus stops between legally parked cars.
What if I drive a taxi or a truck, do I have to yield to buses as well?
Yes. The law applies to "every driver of a vehicle". That includes cars, taxis, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles and other buses.
What is the penalty for not yielding to buses?
Infractions under the Yield to Bus law carry a fine of $90. Drivers charged could settle out of court by paying the fine, much like other traffic tickets.
How do I obtain more information?
For more information about Yield to Bus please contact:
| Philippe Bellon CUTA Tel: 416-365-9800 ext.109 Email: bellon@cutaactu.ca |
Noam Saidenberg Ministry of Transportation Tel: 416-235-4086 Email: noam.saidenberg@mto.gov.on.ca |
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