CAR Ontarians, No more Riding with Kids on the Back

[Drewski]

This slid through quietly yesterday with no debate whatsoever The Safety Fanatics are hard at work.. All you you in Markham will have to thank your MPP Helena Jackek.

An Act to amend the Highway Traffic Act to prohibit the driving and operation of motorcycles with child passengers


Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:


1. The Highway Traffic Act is amended by adding the following section:
Prohibition of passengers under 14 years old on motorcycles
38.1 No person shall drive or operate a motorcycle on a highway if another person under the age of 14 years is a passenger on the motorcycle.
Commencement
2. This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.
Short title
3. The short title of this Act is the Highway Traffic Amendment Act (Child Passengers on Motorcycles), 2008.

EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Bill amends the Highway Traffic Act to prohibit driving or operating a motorcycle on a highway while a person under the age of 14 is a passenger on the motorcycle, with a view to promoting safety on Ontario's roads and protecting youth from preventable injuries.

bates (Hansard) > Official Records for October 27, 2008
INTRODUCTION OF BILLS
HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AMENDMENT ACT
(CHILD PASSENGERS
ON MOTORCYCLES), 2008 /
LOI DE 2008 MODIFIANT
LE CODE DE LA ROUTE
(ENFANTS PASSAGERS
SUR DES MOTOCYCLETTES)
Ms. Jaczek moved first reading of the following bill:
Bill 117, An Act to amend the Highway Traffic Act to prohibit the driving and operation of motorcycles with child passengers / Projet de loi 117, Loi modifiant le Code de la route afin d'interdire la conduite et l'u tilisation de motocyclettes transportant des enfants comme passagers.
The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.
First reading agreed to.
The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): The member for a short statement.
Ms. Helena Jaczek: The bill amends the Highway Traffic Act to prohibit driving or operating a motorcycle on a highway while a person under the age of 14 is a passenger on the motorcycle with a view to promoting safety on Ontario's roads and protecting youth from preventable injuries.

Please email your local MPP, the Premier, the Transportation Minister and Ms. Jaczek to show your opposition to this legislation.

You can find your local MPP's email here:
http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/members/members_current.do?locale=en

Mr. McGuinty
[email protected]

Mr. Bradley
[email protected]

Ms. Jaczek
[email protected]

 

[mtnbikekid08]

Might as well stop em from riding bicycles too, since that would prevent unnecessary injury too

 

[GammaRadiation]

Damn that sucks. One of my good memories from childhood was clenching to the back of my dad's jacket while riding around town on my uncle's dual sport at family gatherings.

 

[GreyRS]

Are all roads there "highways"? If not then it does not stop you from taking kids under 14 for a ride. You just can't get on a highway. Not really seeing the issue to be up in arms over this, unless you see this as the beginning to further encroachment on your riding privileges.....

 

[Vermincelli]

Are all roads there "highways"? If not then it does not stop you from taking kids under 14 for a ride. You just can't get on a highway. Not really seeing the issue to be up in arms over this, unless you see this as the beginning to further encroachment on your riding privileges.....

1. It IS encroaching but Canada enjoys a bit more encroaching government. sad.
2. Many riders, especially older ones with families, take their kids when touring. I rode behind my dad all over the place.

I know many many heavy tour riders who have a bike for dad, a bike for mom and their kids ride behind them both.

 

[Junkie]

Are all roads there "highways"? If not then it does not stop you from taking kids under 14 for a ride. You just can't get on a highway. Not really seeing the issue to be up in arms over this, unless you see this as the beginning to further encroachment on your riding privileges.....

In california
highway = road + sidewalks
roadway = road

almost all laws say highway

 

[GreyRS]

Ok, I see.

 

[Drewski]

in Ontario, highwayis any

common and public highway, street, avenue, parkway, driveway, square, place, bridge, viaduct or trestle, any part of which is intended for or used by the general public for the passage of vehicles and includes the area between the lateral property lines thereof; (“voie publique”)

 

[deusexaethera]

If kids weren't a lot smaller and a lot more likely to die just falling off a bike, it wouldn't be an issue.

 

[7960]

If kids weren't a lot smaller and a lot more likely to die just falling off a bike, it wouldn't be an issue.

and you don't htink a parent should be allowed to make the decision of whether the kid can stay on a bike or not?

 

[Vermincelli]

If kids weren't a lot smaller and a lot more likely to die just falling off a bike, it wouldn't be an issue.

kids bounce

 

[deusexaethera]

kids bounce

They also bleed to death a lot faster.

 

[deusexaethera]

and you don't htink a parent should be allowed to make the decision of whether the kid can stay on a bike or not?

No more than a parent should be allowed to let their kid ride in a car without a seatbelt. And motorcycles are even more dangerous in a crash because they do absolutely nothing to protect the rider.

In fairness, if I were king, I would just mandate full-body protection including a helmet and a rip-stop riding suit, because the majority of fuckups are going to involve kiddo losing his balance, not running into a car. But then again, proper riding gear is mandatory in VA, and I don't know how many times I saw kiddo riding on the back of daddy's Harley in jeans and a T-shirt, just like daddy was.

There are some laws that cover the lawmakers' asses, and there are some laws that actually protect people from harm. I guess this one could fall on either side of the fence, and it does seem like kind of a feel-good law, but since the consequences of a kid falling off a moving motorcycle range from serious to deadly, I think it's better to err on the side of caution.

 

[Vermincelli]

Why not make it illegal for anyone under 18 to not ride a bike at all? Hell, why go with motorcycles, better add bicycles to that list too.
Why not make motorcycles completely illegal for everyone?
Kids can be hurt in cars too, how bout not allowing children under 18 to even ride in any car?

millions of kids have ridden on motorcycles just fine over the years with no problems whatsoever. This is where governments infringe more and more.

You want to protect children? then take away dirt bikes from anyone not over 18. You would save MANY MANY more children from injuries and death doing that then this law will.

 

[BlkDrgnZ28]

Why not make it illegal for anyone under 18 to not ride a bike at all? Hell, why go with motorcycles, better add bicycles to that list too.
Why not make motorcycles completely illegal for everyone?
Kids can be hurt in cars too, how bout not allowing children under 18 to even ride in any car?

millions of kids have ridden on motorcycles just fine over the years with no problems whatsoever. This is where governments infringe more and more.

You want to protect children? then take away dirt bikes from anyone not over 18. You would save MANY MANY more children from injuries and death doing that then this law will.

fuck yeah i know so many more people who have been hurt riding dirtbikes than getting hurt on their parents bike ... actually i don't know any of my friends who have ever been hurt on the back of their parents bike besides how else are they gonna learn proper riding and see it at an early age because it seems like the people i know with bikes their parents had bikes so why not let them soo how ride like someone with proper riding expirence over a longer time (i only say with riding expirence because most people that take their kids on their are older family members with lots of expirence who wouldn't risk that kids life because its their family) instead of a weekend to get comfortable

 

[7960]

....... but since the consequences of a kid falling off a moving motorcycle range from serious to deadly, I think it's better to err on the side of caution.

so are the consequences of falling off a bicycle and we let them operate one of those all by themselves!

 

[Vendetta]

are you going to let parents parent? or are you going to let your government do it for you?

depending on the area of the country, that answer differs