Bill 73 - Effective
September 1, 2005
An Act To Enhance the Safety of Children and Youth
on Ontario's Roads
Ontario has the safest roads in North America. The McGuinty government is making our roads and highways even safer for children and young people through Bill 73. This legislation:
- Requires infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers and primary grade-age
children to be buckled up in the appropriate child car seat, including booster
seats;
- Improves school bus safety by allowing vehicle owners to be charged
for illegally passing a stopped school bus;
- Improves graduated licensing by restricting the number of young passengers a G2 driver can have in the car.
Child Booster Seats and Child Restraints
- Booster seats are required for children under the age of eight,
weighing more than 18 kg but less than 36 kg (40-80 lbs) and who stand less
than 145 cm (4 feet 9 inches) tall.
A child can start using a seatbelt alone once any one of the following criteria is met:- the child turns eight years old;
- the child weighs 36 kg (80 lbs); or,
- the child is 145 cm (4 feet 9 inches) tall.
- More drivers, beyond parents and legal guardians, are required to use child car seats when travelling with toddlers including, for example, baby sitters and grandparents as well as primary caregivers.
- The penalty is two demerit points for not complying with the law.
For more information on child booster seats and child restraints go to:
- Safe & Secure: Choosing the right car seat for your child
- Tips for Installing Child Car Seats
- Choose The Right Safety Seat For Your Child
- Demerit Point System
Booster seats now PST exempt: The 2005 Ontario Budget proposed that the exemption from Retail Sales Tax (RST) for child car seats be expanded to include child booster seats used in motor vehicles. For more information go to:
- Ministry of Finance, Information Bulletin: Booster Seats: PST refunds on booster seats
School Bus Safety
- School buses manufactured after January 1, 2005 must have a crossing arm at the front of the bus. (D250 Standards).
- Decal must be displayed on rear of bus indicating a fine of up to $2,000 if bus is illegally passed.
- Registered owners of vehicles can be charged if their vehicle illegally passes a school bus that is stopped with its red lights flashing.
For more information on school bus safety go to:
- Illegal Passing of a School Bus: What to do
- School Bus Safety: information for riders, parents and motorists
- School Bus Safety Smarts
- School Bus Safety Resource Guide
Graduated Licensing System
Our Graduated Licensing System has been a resounding success in reducing death and injury among novice drivers. Ontario research shows that new teenage drivers are almost three times more likely to be involved in a fatal or serious collision when they are carrying teenage passengers. In fact, research shows the more teenage passengers, the higher the risk.
To further protect youth on our roads:
- The number of young passengers that teen G2 drivers can carry is limited from midnight to 5 a.m.
- Initially, G2 drivers 19 or under can carry only one passenger aged 19 or under.
- After the first six months, and until the G2 driver earns a full G licence or turns 20, they can carry only three passengers aged 19 or under.
These restrictions do not apply if the G2 driver is accompanied by a full "G" licensed driver (with at least four years driving experience) in the front seat, or if the passengers are immediate family members.
Thirty-one jurisdictions in Canada and the U.S. have some form of teenage passenger restrictions in effect.
For more information on graduated licensing go to:
For further details on Bill 73 contact the Ministry of Transportation:
- Telephone 416-235-4686 in the Greater Toronto Area or toll free
1-800-268-4686
TTY (Teletypewriter users) 905-704-2426 in the Niagara Region or toll free 1-866-471-8929
See also:
- Legislative Assembly of Ontario: Bill 73 2004
- News Release,
August 11, 2005
New Ontario law protects children and youth - News Release, December 6, 2004: McGuinty government makes roads safer for young people
- Legislature Building, Queen's Park, Toronto, May 4, 2004: Statement by the Honourable Harinder Takhar, Minister of Transportation
