What changes for Nova Scotia drivers on 19 October?

When does Nova Scotia's Traffic Safety Act start?

The Act and its first regulations take effect on 19 October. The provincial changes page says to keep following the Motor Vehicle Act until then. If you are learning to drive, check which rules apply on the day you practise or take a test.

The 7 October release says more regulations will be developed. Check the provincial changes page again before a drive or test after the start date.

What changes when I drive near a cyclist?

Drivers must leave at least one metre when passing a bicycle, including one in an unprotected bike lane. The province calls this a clarification of the existing passing rule. If there is no room, wait for a safe place to pass.

The changes page also says a driver must not turn right after passing a bicycle if the bicycle is approaching from behind. Check beside your vehicle before turning. A rider you just passed may still be in your turning path.

Cyclists also get new bike lane rules, including a duty to yield to traffic when leaving a bike lane. As a driver, leave passing space and check again before a right turn.

What must I check when parking or opening a door?

The permitted distance from the curb changes from 15 centimetres to 30 centimetres. New parking offences cover sidewalks, alongside or on a median, and in front of a driveway without the owner's permission. Parking in front of a community mailbox is also an offence unless you are delivering or collecting mail.

A new dooring rule applies when someone opens a door on either side of a vehicle on a highway. The vehicle must be stopped, the person opening the door must check that it is safe and clear, and the door must not stay open longer than necessary. Check for approaching traffic before you or a passenger opens a door.

What changes for school buses and children in the car?

Traffic in both directions must stop for a school bus with flashing red lights. The Act clarifies that you need not stop for a bus travelling on the opposite side of a divided highway. If the bus is on your side, or the highway is not divided, stop.

The child restraint definitions now keep children in a rear-facing seat until they are at least two years old and weigh at least 10 kilograms. A child who is at least two and weighs at least 10 kilograms uses a forward-facing seat until they are at least four and weigh at least 18 kilograms. The booster category covers children aged four to under nine who weigh at least 18 kilograms and are shorter than 145 centimetres.

Check a child's age, weight and height before moving them to another restraint. The changes page also says every passenger must have a designated seat.

Can the new rules affect my licence or fine?

The Act defines vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles, roadside workers and people in stopped recovery or service vehicles at an incident. Fines for the Act's careful and prudent driving, careful and prudent speed, and dangerous speed offences double if a vulnerable road user is impacted.

A court can suspend a driver's licence for up to one year after a conviction for one of those offences. If a vulnerable road user is injured or dies, the court may consider that when deciding the suspension length. This is a possible court order after a conviction, not an automatic penalty for passing a cyclist.