News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – The provincial government intends to introduce a series of amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act to improve safety on the roads.

The amendments include increasing fines for distracted driving; setting a maximum rate of speed under the Move Over, Slow Down provisions and extending those provisions to tow trucks, highway maintenance vehicles and private and public utility vehicles that have their flashing lights engaged.

“These changes are an important step towards making our roads safer for motorists and others,” said Public Safety Minister Carl Urquhart. “We are taking these steps to reduce the risks of collisions, injuries and fatalities. These changes will benefit the travelling public, as well as first responders, highway workers and schoolchildren.”

CAA Atlantic is among the groups that advocated to expand move over legislation to cover more vehicles.

“This is an excellent move by the New Brunswick government,” said Gary Howard, vice-president of communications at CAA Atlantic. “We will continue our work in educating Atlantic Canadians to slow down and move over for everyone working on the side of the road.”

Under the proposed amendments, the maximum speed in situations of Move Over, Slow Down will be half the posted speed limit.

The amendments would double the fines, to $280, and increase the demerit points, to five, for drivers convicted of distracted driving. The fines for drivers who pass a school bus while its flashing red lights are engaged will also double to $480 and the demerit points will increase to six.

Changes to the legislation will also enhance the ability to prosecute the registered owner or lessee of a vehicle for passing a stopped school bus unless that person can establish that someone else was operating the motor vehicle. Changes will also be made to allow for the development of a framework for the use of automated school bus camera systems.

Amendments will also clarify how suspensions related to drug-recognition evaluations will be imposed and will allow police officers to impose zero-tolerance provisions on novice drivers following a standard field sobriety test.

The government also recently posted draft regulations to allow for two-year inspections of vehicles.