Province relaxes rules for teen driviers - Article

Article from www.thestar.com Dec 09, 2008 04:30am

Web uprising helps kill bid to limit youths in car

Dec 09, 2008 04:30 AM

Rob Ferguson
Theresa Boyle
Staff Reporters

A massive online uprising by Ontario teens has helped kill a controversial government proposal that would have limited how many youths can be in a car with a teenaged driver.

"Congrats people. (The) premier of Ontario pulled back," rejoiced a member of a Facebook page protesting the proposed change, identified as Pranav Bedi of Toronto.

Bowing to pressure that included the Facebook webpage with almost 150,000 members, Transportation Minister Jim Bradley said yesterday the provision – announced last month as part of a package to make roads safe – will be scrapped.

"We have listened," Bradley told the Legislature, noting concerns that the restriction would limit car pooling, rides to school, sporting events and social gatherings in areas where teens can't rely on public transit. He acknowledged MPPs have been hearing an earful from constituents, particularly in northern and rural areas.

Under the proposal, teenaged drivers would have been limited to one passenger 19 or younger during the first year of a class G2 licence, with an exemption for members of their immediate family.

The plan to limit the number of drivers was especially opposed by teens in rural areas who rely on car pools to get around.

"It's really hard to get around if you live in a rural area," said Steve Krysak, 19, in an interview. He is now a student at the University of Waterloo but grew up just outside of Shelburne. It would take him an hour to walk to town, he noted.

"If one friend has a car he drives everyone around," Krysak said.

Premier Dalton McGuinty had hinted late last month the backlash was prompting the government to think twice about the restriction, part of several reforms that will also forbid drivers 21 or younger having any alcohol in their blood.

It's about time Bradley backed down on the change, which was "clearly unworkable," said Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory.

While the proposal was scrapped, the current restriction on drivers in their first year of a G2 licence having more than one passenger in the car aged 19 or under will remain in place from midnight to 5 a.m.