Rules of the road

OPP News Release

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Noelville - The Graduated Licensing System in Ontario

As a G1 Driver you must always have an accompanying driver in the front passenger seat and THEY MUST:

- be fully licensed and have at least 4 years of driving experience;

- have a blood alcohol concentration of less than .05% (Ontario’s roadside suspension limit) and;

- be the only other person in the front seat.


That you MUST NOT drink any alcohol if you will be driving. You blood alcohol concentration MUST BE ZERO.

You MUST NOT drive between 12:00 midnight and 5:00 in the morning.

Everyone in your vehicle must have a seatbelt. One person per belt.

You MUST NOT drive on Ontario’s 400-Series Highway or High-Speed Expressways, such as the Queen Elizabeth Way or Don Valley Parkway.

G1 lasts at least 1 year but not more than 5 years. At the end of your G1, you MUST PASS the G1 road test to move to G2.

That G2 lasts at least 1 year but you have fewer restrictions than G1. You can drive at any time, day or night. You can drive on your own and on any Ontario Road with only these important conditions:

- You must NOT DRINK any alcohol if you will be driving. Your blood alcohol concentration must be ZERO.

- Each person must have a working seatbelt so your vehicle is not overcrowded and everyone is protected.


- NEW RULES! Starting September 1, 2005, all teenage G2 Drivers must limit the number of passengers under age 20 that they carry late at night.

- During your first 6 months in G2, you may carry only one passenger under 20 years old between 12:00 midnight and 5:00 am.

- After 6 months in G2 and until you get your full G Licence or turn 20, you may carry up to 3 passengers under 20 years old between 12:00 midnight and 5:00 am.

These new restrictions do not apply if you have a fully licensed driver with 4+ years experience in the front seat (only person allowed in front seat), or if your young passengers are members of your immediate family.

It takes at LEAST 20 MONTHS from the start of G1 until you can take the G2 road test, which you MUST PASS to earn a full G Class Licence.

How to get your Motorcycle Licence in Ontario

After passing the Knowledge and Vision tests, you will be given an M1 (Level 1) licence.

As a new rider, you can begin learning to ride a motorcycle with these 4 conditions:

You MUST NOT DRINK any alcohol if you will be riding. Your blood alcohol concentration MUST BE ZERO when you ride.
You may only ride during DAYLIGHT hours (between a half-hour before sunrise and half-hour after sunset).
You may only ride on roads with speed limits of 80km/h or less and on Highways 11, 17, 61, 69, 71, 101, 144 and 655.
You MUST NOT carry any passengers.

M1 lasts at least 60 days and is valid for up to 90 days. At the end of M1 you must pass a Ministry-approved road test to move to M2 (Level 2).

M2 lasts 22 months or 18 months with a Ministry-approved safety course.

In M2, you now have gained experience and skills to carry a passenger and ride at any time, day or night on any Ontario road. You must still NOT DRINK any alcohol if you will be riding.

It takes at least 20 months from your start in M1 until you can take your M2 road test to earn a full M Licence.

If the police stop you for any reason, the officer checking your licence will see that your are a G1, G2, M1 or M2 driver. If you are charged with and convicted of breaking any of the conditions, your licence WILL BE SUSPENDED for 30 days.

Demerit Points

As a Class G1, G2, M1 or M2 driver, if you get two (2) or more demerit points, you will be sent a warning letter.

At six (6) points, you may have to go to an interview to discuss your record and give reasons why your licence SHOULD NOT be suspended. If you don’t attend, your licence may be suspended.

At nine (9) points, your licence will be suspended for 60 days from the date you surrender it to the Ministry of Transportation. You can lose your licence for up to two years if you fail to surrender your licence. A driver's licence may be surrendered at any Driver & Vehicle Licence Issuing Office, Ministry of Transportation Queen's Park Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office, or mailed to the Ministry of Transportation in Downsview.

Driver tests centres do not accept surrendered licences for suspension purposes.

After the suspension, the number of points on your record will be reduced to four (4). Any additional points could again bring you to the interview level. If you reach nine (9) points again, your licence can be suspended for six months from the date you surrender it to the Ministry of Transportation.

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