When you get your license in Canada, it is widely expected that you will follow Canadian traffic laws. Obviously, that is a big part of the reason you have to take a test to receive your license. Canadian traffic laws are designed, of course, to help keep all drivers, passengers, and pedestrians safe as we share the streets, thoroughfares, sidewalks, highways, and other roads that help us get from point A to point B.
In Canada—as well as the United States—the driver’s side of the vehicle is on the left, but drivers must operate their vehicles on the right side of the street. The opposite is true, in both accounts, in other regions around the world, like Europe.
With that in mind, here are a few other MonAvocat driving laws you need to know to get a license in Canada.
MINIMUM DRIVING AGE
The United States and Canada both share a national minimum driving age of 16. If you want to drive professionally/commercially (like a long-haul trucker or a shuttle driver, etc) you need to be at least 21 years of age or have at least one year, minimum, driving experience.
SPEED LIMITS
Also similar to driving laws in the United States, Canada has speed limits recommended for safety purposes. While Canadian speed limits are in km/h, they are similar to the mph speed limits of the United States:
- 50 km/h on city streets
- 80 km/h on major thoroughfares
- 100 km/h on rural highways and freeways
SEAT BELTS
In Canada, drivers and passengers alike must always wear a seat belt when operating/riding in a motor vehicle, on any city road. If you are caught not wearing a seat belt you may be subject to pay a fine of $500.
DRIVING WITHOUT PERMISSION
Obviously, if there is a law that requires you to get a license, you also need to carry it with you when you are driving. If you are found without your license—which is proof that you are authorized and approved to drive—you could be subject to fines or even jail time and the suspension of your license, depending on the severity of the associated violation.
DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE
Both the United States and Canada have laws intended to discourage driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. In Canada, these laws can be very strict, with a blood alcohol concentration limit of 80mg per 100mL of blood (again, very similar to the US standard of 0.08 BAL). While each province can issue different punishments for this crime, it typically involves fines of at least $1,000 and a one-year license suspension.
