High car insurance fees in Ontario...Is driving in Ontario more risky than driving in other countries?
By Serene Zawaydeh.
Car insurance fees are very expensive in Ontario. Especially for someone who doesn't have previous driving experience. Insurance on a $5000 car can cost $5000 for a newcomer. Getting a drivers license is not something that everybody can afford, especially since finding a job takes some time.
Someone who has prior driving experience, needs to learn new rules for driving.
Traffic lights exist in order to manage who goes when, and who should stop, and when.
However, in Ontario, I keep wondering why the red traffic lights, does not necessarily mean that you should stop. And more importantly, the green traffic lights, do not mean that it's your turn to go.
Case 1: At an intersection, when the green light turns green, the cars actually have to stop in the middle of the intersection, and have to keep on waiting for the cars that are going straight, and then when the road is clear, they can go ahead. Sometimes, the light might be green, but you actually have to stop until all the cars pass, and at some points the traffic lights turn red. It is at that point, that you can pass. In this case, the car had to stop on the green light, and passed on the red light. The green does not mean "go", and the red does not mean "stop". When the red light doesn't necessarily mean "stop", and going on red is actually something that is just fine... and when the green light doesn't really mean go, and it actually means you have to wait.. the red light and the green light lose their "value"... This definitely increases risk on the road.
So what is the alternative way of going to the left on an intersection? The alternative is using a green light arrow, which signals that the driver can go to the left at that time. However, in Ontario, the green left arrow is rarely seen, and it quickly changes back to the "general" round light which is not necessarily for going to the left.
Case 2: The second case in which the red light doesn't mean stop, is when you want to go to the right. You can go right on red. In this case, the red traffic light, also does not mean "stop". However, it is imperative to come to a complete stop, and not to do a rolling stop. If the driver doesn't come to a complete stop, they can fail the driving test.
Case 3: The third case is actually risky for the pedestrians walking in the streets. When it's time for the pedestrians to cross the road, the traffic lights are also green for the cars that want to go to the right. The cars actually have to wait for the pedestrians to cross the road, who cross the road at normal speed, as it is their right of way. The drivers have to wait for the pedestrian to pass, after already waiting for their turn, waiting at the red light. I attended a stand up comedy show, and this was actually one of the funny situations that the comedian described... the comedian described the driver while waiting for the pedestrians to cross the road.
Case 4: On the highway, the drivers are supposed to drive at 100 km per hour. Driving at 80 km/h would be driving at low speed, increasing risk of getting into an accident. Everybody is supposed to drive at high speed. Driving slower would mean that the cars would be uncomfortable with the fact that this driver is on the highway. However, during the high traffic times, the cars just wait on the same highway, at which the speed limit is 100km/h, and everybody has to live with it. How come driving at 80km/h was not ok, while just waiting on the highway without moving is ok?
In addition to the above, the driving distances in Ontario are long. As the distance travelled increases, the risk of having an accident increases.
Case 5: The first driving test is the written test. One can drive with another person in the car who has 4 years experience with a G license. You have to wait for one year (or 8 months) and then go for the G2 test (driving in the residential areas). This rule is fine for a teen ager who has their parents teaching them how to drive. However, this rule does not take into consideration that people who move to Canada, do not have someone to drive the car with them. A mother would have to keep the car parked in the garage, while her husband is away. A single person moving to Canada, would not have anybody to drive the car with them.
Case 6: After passing the G2 test, the person can drive on the highway on their own. One year after getting the G2 test, the person can go to the G test, which is driving on the highway. They need to be confident of their driving, and once they are confident, they can go for the G test, or the test on the highway.
Since having the G2 license enables the driver to drive on the highway, there are a lot of people who already have the G2 license, and are driving on the highway. These drivers, need time to get the training they need, in order to pass the G test, which includes driving on the highway at 100km/h.. or even higher, as the person has to drive at the speed of the traffic. If the person is not sure of themselves, they would drive at lower speed, which means going back to case 5. A person driving at lower than 100km/h would be annoying other cars. However, the person is allowed to drive with a G2 license. This means that there are a lot of people with a G2 license who are driving on the highway.
If a person is already driving on the highway, why would they need to do a test after getting comfortable with driving on the highway? driving on the highway already? Getting the G license would enable the insurance company to give a lower insurance rate. However, if they cause an accident, the insurance rates go up.
The ministry approved driving schools give 20 hours in class, and 10 hours on the road. The 10 hours on the road would be for driving in residential areas. They are not for driving on the highway. This means that the people have to learn how to drive on the highway on their own.. thereby increasing risk on the road, as they can't drive at the high speed right away.
The following rules are used in other countries, in which insurance rates are lower than in Ontario.
This article was written by Serene Zawaydeh. (serene.zawaydeh@gmail.com).
By Serene Zawaydeh.
Car insurance fees are very expensive in Ontario. Especially for someone who doesn't have previous driving experience. Insurance on a $5000 car can cost $5000 for a newcomer. Getting a drivers license is not something that everybody can afford, especially since finding a job takes some time.
Someone who has prior driving experience, needs to learn new rules for driving.
Traffic lights exist in order to manage who goes when, and who should stop, and when.
However, in Ontario, I keep wondering why the red traffic lights, does not necessarily mean that you should stop. And more importantly, the green traffic lights, do not mean that it's your turn to go.
Case 1: At an intersection, when the green light turns green, the cars actually have to stop in the middle of the intersection, and have to keep on waiting for the cars that are going straight, and then when the road is clear, they can go ahead. Sometimes, the light might be green, but you actually have to stop until all the cars pass, and at some points the traffic lights turn red. It is at that point, that you can pass. In this case, the car had to stop on the green light, and passed on the red light. The green does not mean "go", and the red does not mean "stop". When the red light doesn't necessarily mean "stop", and going on red is actually something that is just fine... and when the green light doesn't really mean go, and it actually means you have to wait.. the red light and the green light lose their "value"... This definitely increases risk on the road.
So what is the alternative way of going to the left on an intersection? The alternative is using a green light arrow, which signals that the driver can go to the left at that time. However, in Ontario, the green left arrow is rarely seen, and it quickly changes back to the "general" round light which is not necessarily for going to the left.
Case 2: The second case in which the red light doesn't mean stop, is when you want to go to the right. You can go right on red. In this case, the red traffic light, also does not mean "stop". However, it is imperative to come to a complete stop, and not to do a rolling stop. If the driver doesn't come to a complete stop, they can fail the driving test.
Case 3: The third case is actually risky for the pedestrians walking in the streets. When it's time for the pedestrians to cross the road, the traffic lights are also green for the cars that want to go to the right. The cars actually have to wait for the pedestrians to cross the road, who cross the road at normal speed, as it is their right of way. The drivers have to wait for the pedestrian to pass, after already waiting for their turn, waiting at the red light. I attended a stand up comedy show, and this was actually one of the funny situations that the comedian described... the comedian described the driver while waiting for the pedestrians to cross the road.
Case 4: On the highway, the drivers are supposed to drive at 100 km per hour. Driving at 80 km/h would be driving at low speed, increasing risk of getting into an accident. Everybody is supposed to drive at high speed. Driving slower would mean that the cars would be uncomfortable with the fact that this driver is on the highway. However, during the high traffic times, the cars just wait on the same highway, at which the speed limit is 100km/h, and everybody has to live with it. How come driving at 80km/h was not ok, while just waiting on the highway without moving is ok?
In addition to the above, the driving distances in Ontario are long. As the distance travelled increases, the risk of having an accident increases.
Case 5: The first driving test is the written test. One can drive with another person in the car who has 4 years experience with a G license. You have to wait for one year (or 8 months) and then go for the G2 test (driving in the residential areas). This rule is fine for a teen ager who has their parents teaching them how to drive. However, this rule does not take into consideration that people who move to Canada, do not have someone to drive the car with them. A mother would have to keep the car parked in the garage, while her husband is away. A single person moving to Canada, would not have anybody to drive the car with them.
Case 6: After passing the G2 test, the person can drive on the highway on their own. One year after getting the G2 test, the person can go to the G test, which is driving on the highway. They need to be confident of their driving, and once they are confident, they can go for the G test, or the test on the highway.
Since having the G2 license enables the driver to drive on the highway, there are a lot of people who already have the G2 license, and are driving on the highway. These drivers, need time to get the training they need, in order to pass the G test, which includes driving on the highway at 100km/h.. or even higher, as the person has to drive at the speed of the traffic. If the person is not sure of themselves, they would drive at lower speed, which means going back to case 5. A person driving at lower than 100km/h would be annoying other cars. However, the person is allowed to drive with a G2 license. This means that there are a lot of people with a G2 license who are driving on the highway.
If a person is already driving on the highway, why would they need to do a test after getting comfortable with driving on the highway? driving on the highway already? Getting the G license would enable the insurance company to give a lower insurance rate. However, if they cause an accident, the insurance rates go up.
The ministry approved driving schools give 20 hours in class, and 10 hours on the road. The 10 hours on the road would be for driving in residential areas. They are not for driving on the highway. This means that the people have to learn how to drive on the highway on their own.. thereby increasing risk on the road, as they can't drive at the high speed right away.
The following rules are used in other countries, in which insurance rates are lower than in Ontario.
- A red light means that you have to stop. You cannot go right on red.
- You don't have wait in the middle of the intersection with the light being green for you. In oder to go to the left, there is a green arrow that signals that it is time for you to go to the left, or to the right.
- The cars don't have to wait for the pedestrians to pass when the light is green for them. This is because the pedestrians get the green light when it is time for them to pass. During this time, the cars do get the green light this direction.
- If a driver wants to drive at low speed, they can drive on the right hand side of the highway. The cars on the left hand side of the highway go fast.
- There is no rule that says that you can drive only if you have someone who can drive with you. Either you can drive, or you can't drive. The written test does not enable you to drive. You can drive when you pass the test.
This article was written by Serene Zawaydeh. (serene.zawaydeh@gmail.com).
I would like to share the following discussion on the above article. The discussion can be found on my LinkedIn Group: Hire Immigrants in Canda.
ReplyDelete======================================================
Susana Toma, P.Eng
Mechanical Engineer| Project Manager
Probably not. Healthcare / rehabilitation services for injured people might be of higher quality in Ontario and as consequence perhaps more expensive, which could drive up insurance rates. Also property that might be damaged by a driver might cost more to restore to the initial quality and per high Ontario safety standards.
Driving in Ontario could be probably considered more risky if we thought of the potential consequences if breaking traffic regulations, speeding, getting in accidents etc.
Serene Zawaydeh:
Thanks a lot Susana for your reply. Another point is that car insurance includes $1 million or even $ 2 million liability coverage.. This is too high..
Susana Toma, P.Eng:
Liability coverage is usually for bodily injury and for property damage. If someone thinks for property damage $1 million is too high, for bodily injury I think it is not. If someone would become permanently disabled because of a careless driver, depending on the age of the disabled, the $1 million could be sufficient or not for the disabled and family (possibly young children). Imagine if in a collision more passangers were injured or disabled, not just one... Luckily Ontario roads were relatively very safe so far.
Serene Zawaydeh
The risk of getting hurt in a car accident is the same regardless of the geographical location...Would getting into an accident in Ontario make the injured rich or a lucky millionnaire?!
Susana Toma, P.Eng
I do not agree, in some countries there might be many people driving under the influence of acohol and cars driven might not be as safe.. However I've heard recently drastic improvements were made to road safety in some such countries.
I would not wish to become disabled in a car accident and be given $1 million and hope you would not like that for yourself either.
Serene Zawaydeh:
The physical and psychological injury cannot be valued with money. $1 million or $2 million are not going to make up for loss of life. Insurance companies are the primary gainers from the high insurance fees, in my opinion.
The following innovation provides the solution to the traffic light system. This should drive the car insurance rates down.
ReplyDeleteSmarter traffic lights win global recognition for U of T grad
University of Toronto Engineering graduate Samah El-Tantawy is creating better, smarter traffic lights using game theory and artificial intelligence to teach lights how to adjust to traffic patterns in real time.
http://www.news.utoronto.ca/smarter-traffic-lights-win-global-recognition-u-t-grad
Great observation belongs to car accessories with best service for cars.
ReplyDeleteSkoda Clutch repair & Smart Clutch repair