SEATBELTS – What Does the Law Say?
For many Ontarians, the notion of wearing a seatbelt is so ingrained that it is surprising to think that we need a law to enforce what seems to be a common sense thing. In fact, the prevalent use of seatbelts in Ontario is a result of the evolution of attitudes, car design, and the law. It was not all that long ago that new cars did not necessarily come with seat belts and there was no law mandating the use of seatbelts. In Ontario, mandatory seat belt use was first required in January 1976. Other provinces followed with mandatory seat belt requirements with Quebec in mid-1976, and many other provinces not until the mid to late 1980’s. The Yukon imposed mandatory seat belt rules in 1991. The requirement …
Train Disasters, Oil Spills & Insurance
Public attention has recently been drawn to several rail accidents and disasters in Canada. The Lac Megantic disaster in Quebec on July 6, 2013, marks a tragic day when a runaway train derailed in the centre of town, caught fire and exploded when the millions of litres of oil escaped. The derailment and explosion occurred in the middle of the small town and killed upwards of 47 people who were innocently going about their lives. Another rail accident occurred in Ottawa on September 18, 2013 when six people lost their lives when the bus they were riding in collided with a train at a level crossing. There is some suggestion that the crossing was a recognized danger that had not been upgraded due to what was considered a …