News release

Public Input on Driver Training, Inspection and Dealer Licencing Regulations

Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal (Oct. 2007 - Feb. 2021)

Government continues to seek input on Traffic Safety Act draft regulations.

Nova Scotians can now provide feedback on proposed regulations that will outline the rules for businesses and people who are licensed to sell and inspect vehicles, as well as for those who train drivers of passenger and commercial vehicles.

This is the fourth set of draft regulations being shared for public comment. They focus primarily on strengthening consumer protections, while easing unnecessary administrative burden on businesses.

The Business Licence regulations are available online effective today, Jan. 21.

Highlights of this phase of regulations include:

  • allowing driver improvement programs and the theory component of driver education courses to be delivered online
  • requiring codes of conduct, background and criminal records checks for business licence owners and principals licensed under these regulations.
  • more stringent eligibility criteria for individuals teaching driver improvement programs
  • enhancing requirements for storage, security and safeguarding of motor vehicle inspection stickers and certificates
  • a proposed fee change for motor vehicle inspections to $50 from $29.50
  • establishing rules for temporary dealership locations in malls or parking lots

The Traffic Safety Act regulations are being released in phases. The phases released so far include regulations for drivers, vehicles, rules for using the road and business licensing. Draft regulations on roles and responsibilities and penalties will be released for comment over the next two months.

Nova Scotians can get more information and provide feedback at: https://novascotia.ca/traffic-safety-act-public-engagement/

The deadline for feedback on the Business Licence regulations is Feb. 22. Input on Use of the Road regulations concludes Jan. 22.

Quick Facts:

  • the Traffic Safety Act was passed unanimously in the fall of 2018 and will replace the outdated Motor Vehicle Act (MVA), which was written in the early 1920s
  • the act is designed as a framework, setting broad policy and regulatory authority to quickly address changing technologies and future road-safety needs
  • since the last major revision in 1989, the Motor Vehicle Act has been amended more than 62 times
  • the legislation, once in effect, will be more concise than the current MVA, moving technical detail to regulation and allowing more flexibility and responsiveness to emerging issues
  • the Traffic Safety Act reflects significant stakeholder engagement with 31 groups and 23 partners including Bicycle Nova Scotia, Insurance Bureau of Canada, Road Safety Advisory Committee, Nova Scotia Chiefs of Police and Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities
  • in September, the first phase of draft regulations, the drivers regulations, were released for public feedback. Public comment on vehicle and use of the road have also concluded
  • the act and regulations will take effect following the public review phase and once upgrades to the Registry of Motor Vehicles computer system are completed

Additional Resources:

Bill 80 – The Traffic Safety Act: https://nslegislature.ca/legc/bills/63rd_2nd/1st_read/b080.htm

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