Toronto 
Ontario is moving ahead with a slate of tougher penalties aimed at curbing dangerous driving, responding directly to concerns raised by the family of Andrew Cristillo, a father of three who was killed by a driver later charged with dangerous and stunt driving.
The province says many of the new rules are in response to Andrew’s Law” petition and are designed to deter reckless behaviour and strengthen accountability for drivers whose actions put others at risk.
Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said the measures to be introduced today as part of a package of legislative changes reflect the government’s commitment to preventing tragedies like the one that claimed Cristillo’s life.
One of the most significant proposals is a lifetime driver’s licence suspension for anyone convicted of dangerous driving causing death. Police would also be able to issue immediate 90-day licence suspensions and impound vehicles when they have reasonable grounds to believe a motorist is driving dangerously.
Penalties for driving while already suspended would rise sharply: a 14-day impoundment and $2,000–$10,000 fine for a first offence, escalating to 30 days and $5,000–$15,000 for a second and 45 days with fines of $10,000–$20,000 for third or subsequent offences.
A new roadside suspension of seven days would apply to careless driving, increasing to 30 days when bodily harm or death occurs, with fines rising to $1,000–$5,000.
Commercial drivers would face steeper consequences for distracted driving, including suspensions of seven, 14, or 60 days depending on the number of offences and fines of $1,000–$6,000. Minimum penalties for speed limiter violations on commercial vehicles would also jump from $250 to $1,000.
The province is additionally consulting on whether impaired drivers who cause a parent’s death should be required to provide financial support to the victim’s children. Ontario notes that although its roads are among the safest in North America, dangerous and distracted driving continue to cause significant harm, with distracted driving alone contributing to one in seven roadway deaths annually.
Cristillo’s brother, Jordan Cristillo, said the proposed measures reflect what their family has been fighting for: “Andrew deserved better, and families deserve real protection.”
