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Ontario ponders even tougher rules for new driver's licences this fall

Canadian Press Article online since September 10th 2008, 0:00
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TORONTO - New young drivers in Ontario could face tougher restrictions like a longer wait to get a full licence and tighter rules about carrying passengers if new legislation passes this fall, the provincial government said Wednesday.
Transportation Minister Jim Bradley said in an interview that he has been pondering changes to the province's 14-year-old graduated licensing system that would target new drivers.
"It's not that we're trying to pick on young people but that's where we see accidents happening over the years," Bradley said.
"There's a feeling that young people are more easily influenced by outside circumstances than others are."
Statistics indicate new drivers - especially younger ones - are more accident prone. To deal with the issue, Ontario introduced graduated licensing for new drivers in 1994.
The licence for new drivers keeps them off certain major highways, sets a minimum 20 months before earning full driving privileges, and limits how many people the new driver can carry in their vehicle.
One person pushing for tighter rules for young drivers has been Tim Mulcahy, whose 20-year-old son Tyler and friends, Kourosh Totonchian, 19, and Cory Mintz, 20, were killed in a horrific crash after drinking at a Muskoka restaurant.
The trio died when the car they were in plunged into the waters of Lake Joseph, near Minett, Ont., in July.
Police said speed and alcohol were factors in the crash.
Mulcahy, who has written Premier Dalton McGuinty urging tougher rules, is pushing the provincial government to revoke the licences of young drivers who are caught either speeding or drinking for between three months and a year.
Speaking before a cabinet meeting Wednesday, McGuinty called the crash a "terrible tragedy" and expressed sympathy with the idea of tougher licensing.
"The dad is taking inspiration from the death of his son to look for a public policy change which he believes would make the roads for all our kids," McGuinty said.
"He may be onto something."
McGuinty said he did not have details of the proposed changes that could come this fall and Bradley was reluctant to provide them pending review by his cabinet colleagues.
"Suffice to say it's designed to make our roads safer," Bradley said.
He said other individuals and groups have also expressed support for changes to toughen the licensing requirements.
It's important to ensure young people develop sound habits at the start of their driving careers, he added.
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Carol MaryAyn Harrison

Comment online since October 13th 2008
Like someone on a link sent to me, said, drinking and driving do not mix!

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