It was pointed out that Ontario’s driver’s license test regulations were changed without considering traffic safety.
On the 6th, the Board of Audit and Inspection pointed out in its annual report, “The beginner driver’s license ‘G grade’ test regulations were changed without safety evaluation and government cabinet approval.” The report said that some regulations, including three-point turns and parallel parking, were abolished and were done without consulting traffic safety experts. It has been reported that the Ontario government has changed the regulations to resolve the accumulation of people waiting for the driver’s license test due to the coronavirus outbreak. This change, which was intended to be applied temporarily at the time, became permanent in June 2022.
At the time, Transport Minister Carolyn Mulrooney said, “We will simplify the process for the G-class driving test,” and explained, “However, it will not apply to the G2-class test.” The report pointed out that “approximately 54,000 international license holders will be exempt from the G2 level test,” and that “the abolished rule is very important in confirming safe driving ability.” According to the Ministry of Transportation, 84 new examiners were appointed in 2020 to resolve the long waiting period for the test, and it was revealed that at that time, the number of people waiting for the road driving test reached about 50,000.
After abolishing some regulations, the Ministry of Transportation conducted a safety-related analysis, including the accident rate of novice drivers, and concluded that the decision to abolish them did not have any significant impact on safety accidents.