Hey guys and gals,
In the next few days I'll be leaving for a road trip through canada and I'm curious about the driving laws in both Ontario and Quebec.
I've looked online for cell phone usage laws and it seems like its illegal in both places, but i'm uncertain. How prevelent are highway speed cameras and red light cameras?
I certainly dont plan on breaking any laws, but I'd like to know where to be especially careful.
Thanks

 

To be honest, our highways are very similar to those in the states. Cops don't mind if you're driving 10-20 km/h over the limit, but will care obviously if you are zooming through cars and generally driving recklessly. As for cell phone laws, it is illegal in Quebec, and I'm not 100% sure on how severe it is and how they deal with it (it's kind of hard to spot someone on a cell phone in the midst of 100 or so cars) As far as I know it, it is not illegal yet in Ontario. If it is, then the cops are very lenient about it and don't attempt to pull you over for it (When I was heading home I saw at least 1 in every 5 drivers on a cell phone)

As for red light cameras, cops don't care if you speed through the intersection when it's yellow, just don't over do it and speed through when the light is like .5 seconds from turning red obviously* But honestly, I would not be concerned about being pulled over for traffic violations.

 

Radar detectors and are illegal in ontario if you have one, it is also illegal to smoke in a vehcle with someone under 16 as a passenger

Speeding is cool as long as you do it in moderation, 50 kms(30 mph) over the posted limit = your car impounded for 7 days

 

As long as you are not driving like an idiot and not bringing unnecessary attention to yourself (hard in an 8, i know lol) then you should be fine... good luck in Quebec, i don't know if you speak/read french well so it may get interesting...

 

Thanks everyone for all the advice! I dont have a radar detector, but that was definitely a good point. I don't speak French; I took Spanish in school all my life, so this is going to be interesting, to say the least.

 

About the cell phone law in Quebec.

If you have the phone in your hands, it is presumed you are using it to talk on the phone.

They do not have to prove you where actually on a call. Just handling it, while driving in the car is enough for a ticket.

 

Yep... fines are about $200 for this.

 

Just to confirm something... they passed a law in Ontario acouple of months ago that you're not allowed to use your cellphone while driving. Headset's are fine.. just don't be fiddling with a phone while you're driving. I've yet to see or hear of anyone actually getting pulled over for this yet. There are still tonnes of idiots yabbering on the phone while driving in Toronto.

Anyways... it's pretty much the same as in the states.. just don't drive like a dick and you'll be fine

I trust you're from the northern states as well? 'cause if you're coming up from the south you're going to NEED snow tires. Allseaons just don't cut it on the 8 when there's black ice or even a small amount of snow.

 

Thanks for the heads up on the Quebec law. I'll stick to the blue tooth then. I've got a set of all seasons. They've made it through the Michigan winter fine, and, hopefully, with the extra weight of my bags in the trunk I think I'll be ok. I'm hoping this snow passes before hand.

 

BTW, Quebec has a mandatory Snow Tire law for winter.

However that doesn't affect you as you are just a passer by.

Just don't stay here for 3 months with All Season Tires

BTW, there should be lots of snow in the next few days in Montreal, if thats where your going through.

Roads have been dry though for a few weeks now.

 

Actually this is only for cars PLATED in Quebec. You could live there year round with an Ontario car and all-seasons if you wanted to.

However why anyone would want to live up here without snow tires is completely beyond me and may result in an ***-kicking. I'm glad they have this law and hope they pass it across Canada.

 

I believe cars with foreign plates are exempted from paying hwy tolls. so use 407 exclusively!

 

Making it to Montreal is the plan, but that is all based on the weather. Thanks for the tip on 402. I'll probably end up taking that route now.

 

If I recall correctly, I drove past a sign that read "foreign plates will be billed", so you still will get charged for using it. Not 100% sure though, so don't take my word for it. As for speaking french in Montreal... It's not that bad, most people in Montreal can speak English (Last time I went about 2 years ago, everywhere I went spoke English and when I approached any store clerk, they would greet me in English) For the most part, montreal consists of mostly anglophones.

 

^ hmm.... then it must be a BC thing then. Ontario might be different.

 

This wrong you will be billed!! They have signs posted warning of this, alot of snow north of Toronto sometimes more that Montreal!!!( snow belt)
Be aware of that as well.

 

I just got back from my road trip in Canada. Thanks for all the advice everyone!