Careless Driving During COVID-19
While many Canadians abided by the Stay Home regulations that came into effect earlier this year, others resorted to stunt driving and drag racing on Ontario’s barren streets. Provincial and municipal police are reporting a spike in dangerous driving and collision fatalities. In Toronto alone, reports from the month of March show a 200% increase in stunt driving compared to the same time period in 2019. One Toronto resident, age 18, driving on the QEW was clocked at a speed of 308 km/hour on May 9th. Not only is this extremely dangerous behaviour, drivers are also putting their auto insurance premiums at risk as well.
According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, the average cost of car insurance is about $1,505/year – taking factors like location and driving record into account. It’s estimated that a conviction such as stunt driving can increase your monthly premiums significantly! Although stunt driving is often associated with excessive speed, you can still be charged with this offense for any of the following reasons;
- Ghost riding (driver is not in the driver seat)
- Careless and dangerous driving
- Drifting, burnouts or donuts
- Popping a wheelie on a motorcycle
- Driving with a person in the trunk
In Ontario, the laws surrounding irresponsible driving are becoming increasingly strict. According to the Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act, stunt driving violations result in an immediate 7-day license suspension and vehicle impoundment. However, Premier Doug Ford has publicly endorsed increasing license suspensions for stunt driving up to 30 days. If found guilty, drivers can receive a fine between $2000-10,000, up to 6 months in jail, and a 2-year license suspension.
Commonly asked questions regarding stunt driving and insurance:
1) If charged, will my rates go up right away or only on the renewal date?
This varies by insurance companies. Most will not amend your rate until the renewal date, but if you have a month to month policy then your rate would be increased the next month after conviction appears on your record.
2) Is there a chance that the insurance company won’t even find out about it?
The insurance companies order motor vehicle reports at random intervals or following an accident.
3) If they don’t find out about it for a few years, can they go back and retroactively charge me for what the rate should have been had they known about the conviction?
You can only be charged while the conviction is still on your record. Although points are only noted with MTO for two years, the actual conviction stays on your record for 3 years. This timing starts after you have been convicted. If you wait three months to go to court and then get convicted, that is the date the insurance company uses to determine your rate, not the offense date, the conviction date.
4) If the rate goes up to something I can’t afford, can I just remove myself from the policy, so only my spouse would be on it, with me as an occasional driver? Or would insurance companies refuse that?
Some companies will allow you to sign an Excluded Driver Endorsement form which will exclude you as a driver from any listed vehicle on the policy.
As we enter into the second phase of re-opening the economy, more people will be back on the road. Stunt races and careless driving must stop to ensure the protection of everyone on the province’s roads.
