Amendments Mean Safer Roads

Crosswalks and intersections will be safer and Nova Scotians better protected from street racing with legislation introduced today, Nov. 23.

Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Murray Scott introduced a bill to amend the Motor Vehicle Act and make roads safer for Nova Scotians.

"As we heard in the speech from the throne, building safer, healthy communities is a priority for Nova Scotians and for our government, and these amendments are a major step forward in reaching that goal," said Mr. Scott. "These new laws will reduce road injuries and deaths, and stop much unnecessary suffering by the families and friends whose loved ones become victims of road crashes."

The proposed amendments include:

• increasing penalties for street racing, and clarifying the language and expanding the definition of the offence to help police charge offenders;
• clarifying the responsibilities of pedestrians and drivers for crosswalk safety;
• prohibiting driver distractions, and making it an offence to use a handheld cellular telephone while operating a motor vehicle;
• enabling legislation for the use of red-light enforcement cameras, and the use of photo radar on a trial basis;
• prohibiting people from stopping, attempting to stop or approaching a vehicle to offer, sell or provide any commodity or service to, or solicit people in a vehicle; and
• establishing a separate offence for speeding in a temporary work area.

Mr. Scott said that several government departments, along with police, Crown prosecutors, and the injury-prevention community, played a part in the creation of the bill.

"Government shares the responsibility for road safety with many partners, and we hear their voices loud and clear," said Mr. Scott. "Be assured that many more positive steps will soon be made to improve the safety of our roads."