News Release Archive
TRANSPORTATION/PUBLIC WORKS--AMENDMENTS TO THE MOTOR VEHICLE ACT ----------------------------------------------------------------- Amendments introduced today to the Motor Vehicle Act by Transportation and Public Works Minister Richie Mann will provide the authority to increase the speed limit on twinned highways, provide certification for motor vehicle inspectors, and provide statutory support for a program of mandatory alcohol rehabilitation following a first offence. Specifically, the amendments will allow a change in the maximum speed limit from 100 kilometres per hour to 110 kilometres per hour on twinned highways that have been designed for the higher speed. Twinned roads built in the province for the past number of years have a 110 kilometres per hour design speed, and the speed limit on the new western alignment will be 110 kilometres per hour. As well, the amendments will provide for certification of motor vehicle inspectors. Inspectors will continue to be appointed under the Motor Vehicle Act, but the amendments will establish a penalty for vehicle owners or operators for failing to cooperate with an inspector carrying out his duties. Another amendment will reinforce the inspectors authority to enforce by-laws or regulations specific to local roads. This would include enforcement of "local trucking only" requirements such as currently exist on the Hammonds Plains Road, Halifax, and are planned for the existing Highway 104 through Wentworth Valley when the western alignment has been completed. Inspectors are responsible for enforcing weight restrictions on highways across the province, as well as for ensuring compliance with the National Safety Code for truckers. Commercial trucks can cause anywhere from 90,000 to 322,000 times the damage to a roadway as a passenger vehicle. Finally, the changes will provide statutory support for the mandatory alcohol rehabilitation program introduced last year. The amendments allow the registrar to require a driver, whose licence has been suspended for the first time, to take an alcohol rehabilitation program before the licence will be reinstated. Subsequent offences will lead to a mandatory interview with a drug dependency officer prior to reinstatement. Reinstatement will be approved only on application to, and with the approval of, the registrar. The mandatory rehabilitation program was introduced last October, and has seen a total of 766 participants through this April. Cost of the program is covered by the individual. -30- Contact: Donna McCready 902-424-8687 trp May 10, 1996 - 9:20 a.m.