What you can expect inside this webinar?
Driving
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how to get a driving license in Ontario?
how to purchase, register and insure a vehicle?
parking and child safety regulations
winter driving safety tips
Cycling
- cycling regulations in Ontario
Public Transit and Taxis
- public transportation
- special needs and social transportation
- taxi services
Provincial, Inter-provincial and International transit
- railway
- intercity buses
- air travel
Getting a driving license – why
bother ?
•
Driving is essential means of transportation in non-urban areas where
public transit system is not as developed as in metropolitan areas
• It is safer and cheaper to drive in small communities
- Less traffic
- Lower insurance premiums
Information: Brockville is the safest community to drive in Ontario
according to the Allstate Insurance Company’s Ontario Safe Driving
Study 2011.
How to get a driving license in Ontario
Driving license – First time drivers
Follow the graduation steps!
G1 -
Written test - knowledge of traffic rules and regulations
Vision test - able to see required distances
Graduate in 8 to 12 months
G2 -
Intermediate driving test: satisfactory driving skills on city roads
Graduate in 12 months
G–
Full driving test – satisfactory driving skills on highways
Grants full driving privileges in the Province of Ontario.
Remember: your G2 license will revert back to G1 if you don’t take the full G-test within the
timeframe
Driving license – Foreign license
holders
You can avoid the graduation steps !
•
License from countries with Reciprocal Agreement - immediate exchange
- List of Reciprocal Agreement countries
www.drivetest.ca/en/license/ExchangeReciprocal.aspx
•
License from other foreign country – immediate drive test
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Letter from the original license issuing agency or Embassy / Consulate of the
country in Canada attesting to applicant’s driving experience
Driving Experience Equivalents
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12 -24 months of experience in the last 3 years – exchange /take drive test for G2 license
24 + months of experience in the last 3 years – exchange / take drive test for G license
Preparing to take your drive test
Preparing to take your drive test
www.DriveTest.ca website provides all the information you need!
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Find the closest Drive Test Centers to you
Find out the test fees
Book drive test online
Find information about official driving handbook
Find Ministry of Transportation (MTO) approved Beginner Driver Education (BDE) courses
Beginner Driver Education Courses are highly recommended
- savings from the insurance premiums exceed the cost of training
- G1 graduation test towards receiving G2 license 4 months earlier
Further information: Guide to Newcomers and Ontario Expired Driver’s License Holders
drivetest.ca – Driver Education
Purchase a Vehicle
Purchase a Vehicle
Consider
• Type of vehicle
• New or used
• Method of payment
Do Your Research
• www.ConsumerReports.org – Car Buying Advice
• www.auto123.com – Car Buying Guide
Where to
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Buy
AutoTrader.ca
Autocatch.com
www.Kijiji.ca
Local dealerships: www.Newcomersinfo.ca - Transportation
Remember to ask from the vendor - Safety Standards Certificate & Emissions Test Certificate
• Required to register your vehicle in Ontario
• Reduces the risk of purchasing a fraudulent car
Register your Vehicle
Register your Vehicle
The Law requires that all vehicles in Ontario are registered under the
owner’s name and address.
Where?
• Service Ontario Counters
Service Ontario online locator www.services.gov.on.ca/services
When?
• New vehicle owners – within 6 days
• Foreign car owners – within 30 days
• Change of address and/or owner’s name – within 6 days
You must present
• Vehicle Insurance
• Safety Standards Certificate and Emissions Test Certificate
(provided by the vendor or obtained at a licensed garage)
You will get
• License Plate (at $20 fee)
• Validation sticker (at $ 74 fee -renewed annually)
Auto Insurance
Auto Insurance
Auto –insurance is the law.
Failure to have an insurance can result to fine of $5000 -$50,000
•
•
Insurance premium is determined by a number of factors: model and year of vehicle, your
postal code, driver’s training & experience, age & sex – consider these factors when
purchasing your car !
Shop around, ask for a quote – auto - insurance premiums might vary significantly for the
same coverage on the same car by different insurance companies.
Types of Insurance Coverage
Mandatory - Liability coverage
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Third party liability coverage
Statutory accident benefits coverage
Direct compensation property damage
Optional - Collision coverage and Comprehensive coverage
Parking
Parking
Parking regulations vary in different municipalities
Consult your municipal website / call responsible department for specific information
Example: www.city.brockville.on.ca – Departments – Parking and Animal Control
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On - street parking
- free or with payment at the meter
- regulated by signs
- not allowed to park in 3 meters of fire hydrant & 9 meters of intersection
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On-street winter overnight parking
- regulated by municipal by-laws
- most often prohibited to allow snow- plowing machines clean the street
•
Accessible Parking Permit (APP)
- allows to park at designated areas, exemptions from certain regulations
- eligibility details: www.ontario.ca/en/services_for_residents/ONT05_039815.html
- apply for APP: www.ontario.ca/en/services_for_residents/index.htm
•
Parking lots
- terms and regulations posted on signs
- free customer parking at large shopping & entertainment centers
Child Safety
Child Safety
By law, it is the driver’s responsibility to ensure passengers under the age of 16
are securely seated in the car.
Child seat safety standards:
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Infants: birth to 9 kg (20lb) – rear facing car-seats
Toddlers: 9 -18 kg (20-40lb) –forward facing car-seats
Pre-school: 18 -36 kg (40-80 lb) less than 145 cm (4 ft 9 inch)– booster seat
Youth: 36 kg (80 lb) and 145 cm or more – regular seat belt.
Children under 13 years of age are safest in the back seat.
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Child seats used in Canada should have a Canadian motor-vehicle safety
standard label and expiry date that does not exceed 10 years
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Demonstration of car-seat applications:
Ontario Ministry of Transportation website www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/carseat/choose.shtml
Winter Driving Safety Tips
Winter Driving Safety Tips
1.
Check the weather forecast and road conditions before starting your trip
- weather forecast across the country
www.weatheroffice.gc.ca
- winter road conditions by region
www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/traveller/conditions
2.
Explore the Winter Driving Brochure developed by Transport Canada
http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/roadsafety/safevehicles-safetyfeatures-winterdriving-index-693.htm
3.
If possible, take winter driving classes by an experienced instructor.
4.
Keep a Winter Driving Emergency Kit in your vehicle’s trunk – just in case you might need it!
Video demonstration of Emergency Kit items:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcdeOurNo3c&feature=player_embedded
Cycling in Ontario
Cycling in Ontario
By law, bicycle is a vehicle and cyclists should obey the traffic rules
There is no cycling license in Ontario, but the police can issue fines if the cyclists fail to
obey the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) regulations for cyclists
Key HTA cycling regulations:
- stop at the red lights and stop signs
- signal the turns
- make sure cyclists under the age of 18 wear a helmet
- stop for stopped school buses
- yield to pedestrians
Full list of HTA Cycling regulations and set fines – The Ontario’s Guide to Safe Cycling
www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/pubs/cycling-guide/section5.0.shtml
Further Information
Toronto Cycling Handbook - properly wearing a helmet, parking a bicycle and more
www.settlement.org/sys/library_detail.asp?k=TRANS_PUB&doc_id=1005083
Brockville Cycling: www.brockvillecycling.com
Public Transportation
Public Transportation
Where to find information on public transit in your community?
1. ON Ministry of Transportation online database of available public transit
systems in all of Ontario mto.gov.on.ca – Public Transit
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/traveller/transit.shtml
2. Municipal websites – usually under Transportation or Resident Services:
information about routes, fees, schedules and maps
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Lets explore www.city.brockville.on.ca website
Special needs and Social transportation
Special needs and Social transportation
Most communities have some type of transportation assistance for
individuals with special needs
1. Special provisions built into the general public transit system
- fully accessible buses with lifts for people with disabilities
- para - transit services for people with disabilities by pre-booked
pick-up times at the conventional fare
2. Separate transportation provided by agencies serving people with special
needs, day care centers, schools, vocational rehabilitation services, etc.
- search in www.211ontario.ca online database of community
agencies by search word ‘transportation’ and your area
- ask your social worker (if you have one)
- inquire at the Community and Primary Health Care units.
Taxi Services
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Where to find taxi services in your community?
- telephone book online www.yellowpages.ca/ or in print
- web search by using search word ‘taxi services’ and ‘area name’
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Call in advance to make a pick-up appointment
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The price of the trip will appear on the meter beside the driver. If there is
no meter - ask the driver the cost of the trip in advance.
• Be prepared to pay by cash. Not all taxi drivers accept credit cards.
• Gratuity payment of 10 % – 15 % (on top of the amount on the meter)
is an accepted practice but completely optional for the customer.
Provincial, Inter-provincial and International transit
Provincial, Inter-provincial and International transit
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Train: Via Rail Canada cross –country railway
http://www.viarail.ca/en/trains/ontario-and-quebec
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Bus: regular trips by Megabus from Brockville to Kingston, Toronto,
Cornwall and Montreal http://ca.megabus.com/default.aspx
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Air-travel:
- Ottawa International Airport (40-90 minute drive)
- Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (2-3 hour drive or train)
- Toronto Pearson International Airport (4 hour drive or bus in Kingston)
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Drive:
- HWY 401 connecting to all major routes in Ontario
- Two international bridges connecting to USA
Thousand Islands Bridge & Prescott- Ogdensburg Bridge
Key Websites
newcomersinfo.ca/
drivetest.ca/
mto.gov.on.ca/
tc.gc.ca/
settlement.org/