Are you ready for 2016?
Starting January 1st, 2016, many Ontario residents will be impacted by new laws and amendments. Sandra Zisckind, Diamond & Diamond Personal Injury Lawyers, takes a look at some of these changes and how they may impact you.
Motorists and Cyclists at Crosswalks and School Crossings
Most notably, the Ontario government has set out new requirements for motorists and cyclists at crosswalks and school crossings. They will now have to come to a full stop until pedestrians finish crossing the road. Under previous regulations it was all right to move forward if pedestrians had crossed half the roadway.
This requirement is not just restricted to motorists and cyclists. There’s also more onus on pedestrians, too, with a requirement that they not enter a crosswalk if an approaching vehicle is so close it can’t stop.
Injured Workers
Injured workers who are currently receiving partial disability benefits from the Workplace Safety Insurance Board (WSIB) will see their benefits rise 0.5 per cent on the way to being fully indexed to inflation in 2018.
Winter Tires
Insurance companies must provide a discount for drivers who buy and install winter tires to improve traction and safety until spring comes.
Driverless Cars
As tech and automobile companies begin integrating automated vehicle technologies, Ontario is allowing driverless test cars for pilot projects on roadways. This puts Ontario in competition with some U.S. states such as California and Nevada, where Google and automobile companies are attracting attention.
The above are just a few examples to changes in law that may impact the day-to-day life of the average Ontario resident. The Toronto Star provides a full list on how Ontario is changing in 2016.
The team at Diamond and Diamond Personal Injury Lawyers wish everyone a safe 2016.