Careless driving in Ontario is a serious offense that can lead to tickets, fines, suspensions, or even jail. You can be charged with careless driving simply for not paying attention while operating a vehicle, not driving carefully enough, or driving with any detectable amount of alcohol in your body.
It is also common for charges of careless driving to be combined with other infractions, such as distracted driving or impaired driving.
Here is what you need to know about careless driving in Ontario.
What Is Careless Driving?
A charge of careless driving tends to be confusing. It can be open to interpretation by the police officer and courts. Some situations may not be considered careless driving, while other similar situations are.
However, if you are given a ticket for careless driving, then an officer deemed that you were not paying attention or driving safely. Here is a list of what is considered careless driving in Ontario:
- Failing to maintain a safe distance from vehicles on the road
- Making an unsafe pass
- Not checking mirrors when reversing or changing lanes
- Driving through a red light or stop sign.
- Street racing or stunt driving
- Accidents involving pedestrians or cyclists
- A car accident caused by a careless act, such as texting and driving.
- Driving a motor vehicle with alcohol or drugs in your body.
If you perform any of the above while operating a vehicle, then under Ontario law you can be charged with careless driving.
Fines & Penalties
As of January 1, 2022, any drivers who are caught careless driving can receive, upon conviction:
- A fine between $400 and $2,000, plus court costs
- 6 demerit points added to your driving record
- Up to a 2-year license suspension
- A jail term of up to 6 months.
Accidents involving Injury or Death
Recently, due to the rising number of accidents which have resulted in injury or death to other driver’s the Highway Traffic Act has been amended to create two new sub-offences for Careless Driving. They involve situations where “bodily harm” or “death” results from an accident.
In these situations if you are convicted of Careless Driving Causing Bodily Harm or Careless Driving Causing Death, may receive upon conviction:
- A fine between $2,000 and $50,000, plus court costs
- 6 demerit points added to your driving record
- Up to a 5-year license suspension
- A jail term of up to 2 years.
Although careless driving is not considered a criminal offence, you can still receive severe penalties and fines as a result.
If you liked this blog, check out this one on, “What Happens If You Don’t Pay Your Driving Ticket On time?”
