Speeding tickets and failing to buckle up – What they cost beyond the fine
Speeding and seatbelt violation tickets are the most commonly issued tickets in Canada. Currently in Ontario, any conviction for speeding or seatbelt infraction will remain on your driving record for 3 years. In addition, it may also affect your insurance rate.
Here are a few tips on the steps to follow if you happen to get one of these tickets:
1. Speeding Ticket
No one wants to get a speeding ticket, yet it continues to be the most common traffic infraction in Canada year after year.
Why? For many people, they simply do not give themselves enough time to get to their destination and resort to speeding to make up the time, and others have this misconception that getting a speeding ticket is nothing to worry about.
True, a minor speeding ticket will likely not be a high stress occurrence, but even a small speeding ticket could:
· Increase your auto insurance rates
· Lead to fines
· Cost you demerit points
One thing is for sure though; receiving multiple speeding tickets will increase your insurance rates, even if they are minor infractions. Getting a serious speeding ticket (such as 50km over the limit) will definitely increase your auto insurance rates and could get you in some serious legal troubles as well.
Keep in mind that your decision to pay your speeding ticket is an admission of guilt. If you are going to dispute the ticket, make sure to get some legal counsel. If you pay, the infraction will go on your driving record.
If you have been caught for speeding in the past, when it comes time to renew your auto insurance policy, it’s important to always be totally upfront with your insurance company about past speeding tickets. If your insurance company checks your motor vehicle report and finds that you have not disclosed previous tickets, your rates will likely go up and a claim may be denied or your policy could be cancelled.
Speeding tickets can and will impact your auto insurance rates. A conviction-free driving record may qualify you for a reduction of your auto insurance premium. So, think before you decide to speed. Being five minutes late could save you money, stress, and time down the road. Slow down, buckle up, make the roads safer, and reduce your chance of getting a ticket.
2. Seatbelt Ticket
Another common traffic infraction in Canada is failing to put on a seatbelt. Whether in the back seat of a full car, in a quick cab ride, or behind the wheel, are you always clicking your safety belt shut? We aren’t all doing it – according to Transport Canada, some Canadians are still riding in their vehicles without a seatbelt.
Rehabilitative care for someone who has been injured in a vehicle crash takes months or years, not to mention the toll a serious injury can take on your life, as well as those on your family and friends. But not wearing your seatbelt or buckling your child in a car seat also puts more than your safety at risk – being caught unbuckled nets you a fine up to multiple hundred dollars, demerit points on your driving record and may result in a boost to your auto insurance rates.
Beyond the illegality of failing to wear a seatbelt, choosing not to buckle up can be a fatal decision. It’s a fact that seatbelts save lives and greatly reduce serious injury. Even for the simple reason that they keep passengers from being ejected from their vehicle in case of an accident, which increases chances of fatality.
Consider the following tips the next time you buckle up:
· Don’t share: A seat belt is only effective when one person is using it. This is true for both children and adults.
· Use the shoulder belt as a shoulder belt: This belt should not be worn under the arm but rather across the chest.
· Tighten across the hips: Tighten the belt to ensure that it does not fall or slip if the driver needs to make a sudden stop.
Buckling up for every car ride means obeying Canadian law, reducing the chance of serious injury or death, and makes you a safer driver in the eyes of your insurer.
