Car Insurance in Quebec

QUEBEC'S SEAT BELT LAW

Before you and your family get on the rides at an amusement park like La Ronde, you always look at the rules for riding. You make sure that you are tall enough, old enough, and are the right weight for the ride, because you want to be safe and have fun. Navigating the rules and regulations around seat belt safety is like visiting an amusement park; you have to follow the guidelines set out so that you are safe on your trip.

It is very important to wear your seatbelt when you travel in a vehicle. Whether it's a long trip or a short one does not matter. Many accidents happen close to home, and over half of accidents are at a speed of 50 km/h or lower. Wearing your seat belt is not an option. In Quebec, if you don't, or if you don't wear it correctly, you, as driver or passenger, may be subjected to:

• A fine of $80 to $100, plus three demerit points.
• A fine or demerit points if you are 14 years of age or older, which may, in turn, prevent you from getting a licence permitting you to drive a vehicle. These penalties also apply if you violate other sections of the Highway Safety Code.
• A fine of $80 to $100 and three demerit points if you, as a driver or accompanying rider over 14 years of age, do not ensure that passengers are wearing their seat belts correctly.
• A fine of $200 to $300 if seat belts have been modified, removed or made unusable.
• Other fees that may be added to your fine provided under the Highway Safety Code.

Fines and demerit points are the least of your worries, however. Seat belts save lives and not wearing a seat belt means you're jeopardizing more than just your personal safety; you're risking your life too.. Currently, nine out of ten people in Quebec wear their seat belts; however, if EVERYONE buckled up, the number of deaths as a result of a car accident would go down. Over 30% of drivers and passengers who die in an auto accident, were not wearing their seat belts. So, wear your seat belt, and wear it properly, by following the rules.

Adults

At the age of 12, most passengers are considered to be the size--or close enough to the size--of an adult, and the adult seat belt safety rules apply. However, drivers are legally responsible for making sure that everyone under the age of 16 in the vehicle is wearing their seat belt. Seat belts have two parts to them - a lap belt and a shoulder belt. To wear a seat belt properly:

• The lap portion of the belt should sit across the lap of the wearer, low across the pelvis and snug.
• The shoulder belt should, when the belt is buckled, go over the wearer's collar bone and diagonally across his/her chest. It should also be snug, and should be not be tight or uncomfortable.
• DO NOT slip the shoulder belt under your arm or behind your back. It is dangerous, and you will be charged.
• The seat belt should lie flat against the body, and not be twisted, for maximum protection.

Pregnant Women

Some pregnant women believe that they should not wear a seat belt. But, that is not true. Wearing a seat belt protects both mum and baby. When a woman uses the seat belt properly, there is little risk to the baby:

• Always wear both the lap and shoulder belt. The belt should fit snugly.
• Ensure that the lap belt is sitting on the body correctly. The lap portion of the belt should sit across the hips and under the belly - NEVER across the belly.
• Make sure that the shoulder belt is sitting between the breasts, sitting on the side of the belly.
• The lap belt and the shoulder belt should NEVER sit on the belly.
• DO NOT slip the shoulder belt under your arm or behind your back. It is dangerous, and you will be charged.
• The seat belt should lie flat against the body, and not be twisted, for maximum protection.

If you are pregnant and are in a crash, always see your physician. Complications could arise after a crash, whether the crash is minor or serious.

Infants

Infants need special protection when they are in a vehicle. The following rules apply when restraining an infant in a child safety seat.

• Ensure that the safety seat is suitable for the baby's size and weight.
• Infants are required to sit in a rear-facing child safety seat until:
  • They are one year old
  • They are able to walk on their own
  • They weigh at least 10 kg (22 lb)
• The seat should be restrained in the back seat of the vehicle, preferably in the middle.
• In a truck without a back seat, the child safety seat should be placed in the front middle seat.
• The child safety seat should not be place where there are active airbags. Deactivate any airbags that are in front of the infant, or, if possible, find a safe spot in the vehicle that does not have any airbags.
• The safety seat should sit in a semi-reclined position, as this is the best support for the infant.
• A car seat belt or a Universal Anchorage System (UAS) should be used to secure the seat in the vehicle.
• Always ensure that the safety seat is secure in its spot. The safety seat is secure when it moves less than 2.5 cm (1 inch) in any direction.

Children and toddlers

145 cm (4 ft. 9 in.)

Children over one year of age, and who weigh more than 10 kg (22 lb), are still required to use a child safety seat until they are at least 6 years old. While they no longer have to sit facing the rear of the vehicle, it is the safest for them which is why there are now seats available that are rear-facing and accommodate a child who weighs from 16 kg to 18 kg (35 lb to 40 lb). It is advised that passengers under the age of 12 sit in the back seat of a vehicle.

When seating a small child in a vehicle, follow these rules:

• The seat should be restrained in the back seat of the vehicle, preferably in the middle.
• In a truck without a back seat, the child safety seat should be placed in the front middle seat.
• The child safety seat should not be place where there are active airbags. Deactivate any airbags that are in front of the infant, or, if possible, find a safe spot in the vehicle that does not have any airbags.
• To seat two children in child safety seats, place one seat behind the driver side and one behind the passenger side.
• The safety seat should sit straight up against the back of the seat of the vehicle.
• A car seat belt or a Universal Anchorage System (UAS) should be used to secure the seat in the vehicle.
• These seats also require a restraint at the top of the seat. A tether strap, which is a standard part of newer vehicles, should be used to properly secure the seat. If your vehicle does not have a tether strap, contact a professional garage to get one installed.
• Always ensure that the safety seat is secure in its spot. The safety seat is secure when it moves less than 2.5 cm (1 inch) in any direction.
• At six years old, or when he/she weighs more than 18 kg (40 lb), a child can sit in a booster seat.
  • A booster seat is not mandatory, but children at this age are usually too small to wear a seat belt only, because it is very uncomfortable for them. A seat belt will sit high on a child's torso and neck, and if there is an accident, the child could suffer some serious injuries. So it makes sense to put them in a booster seat.
  • The booster seat can be secured using the vehicle's seat belt system.
  • A child should use a booster seat until he/she is 9 years old, reaches a weight of 36 kg (80 lb) and a height of 145 cm (4 ft 9 in).
  • Once a child has outgrown the booster seat, she/he will be able to use a seat belt only.

To make sure that a child is ready to use only a seat belt:

• Ensure that the child has a sitting height of at least 63 cm (2 ft 1 in). The sitting height is measured from the buttocks to the crown of the head.
• Make sure that the child can sit comfortably on the vehicle's seat, resting against the back of the seat, and with his/her knees bent comfortably at the front edge of the seat.
• The seat belt, when buckled, should fit properly, with the shoulder strap sitting over the collar bone and across the hips. If the belt sits on the neck or stomach, the child should continue to use a booster seat, even if their sitting height is 63 cm.

  To stay current on child safety seats, and for more information about child safety seats, visit:

To learn more about seat belt safety in Quebec, visit:

• http://www.saaq.gouv.qc.ca/en/road_safety/seat_belts/legislation.php
• http://www.saaq.gouv.qc.ca/publications/prevention/buckle_up.pdf

Demerit Points In Quebec

No driver wants to see demerit points on their licence. Demerits, which are added to your licence not taken away, when you commit almost any traffic offence, can make your life pretty miserable if you get too many of them. Accumulate enough and you could lose your licence for a while.

The Demerit Point System

Since 1973, there's been a demerit point system in Quebec to penalize drivers who have been convicted of certain offences under the Highway Safety Code or municipal by-law. Demerits can also be accumulated for offences under provincial or federal statute or regulation regarding road safety.

Demerit Points and Your Driver's Licence Renewal Fees

Everyone knows that a ticket conviction could increase the cost of your auto insurance. But did you know that the same ticket-if there's demerit points associated with it-could increase the cost of your driver's licence at renewal? It's true. In Quebec, the number of demerit points on your licence will determine the cost of your licence renewal. The more demerits you have, the more your licence will cost to renew. To see how demerits affect the cost of obtaining a licence, the Societé de l'assurance automobile Quebec (SAAQ) website provides all of that information.

Cost of a Driver's Licence

Traffic Offences And Points

There are a number of offences in Quebec that will add demerit points to your licence, including:

• Driving at a speed too great for weather and road conditions: 2 points
• Tailgating:2 points
• Passing a bike too closely in travel lane: 2 points
• Failure to wear a seat belt: 3 points

Most violations in Quebec are between two and four demerit points. However, there are a number of higher demerit costing offences, including:

• Failure to stop when approaching a school bus with its flashing lights on: 9 points
• Driving for a wager, stake or race: 12 points
• Holding onto, or being pulled or pushed by a vehicle: 12 points

There are a wide variety of traffic violations in Quebec that also subject to demerit points. Some of these violations include:

• Tailgating: 2 points
• Zigzagging to pass: 4 points
• Accelerating when being passed: 2 points
• Reckless driving: 4 points

Speeding is taken very seriously in Quebec, where the number of demerit points issued for speeding is one of the highest in Canada. Depending on the posted speed limit and your speed over it, you can earn yourself anywhere from 1 demerit point to 30 our more. Unlike most offences that no longer appear on your driving record after two years, excessive speeding offences will stay there for 10.

For a list of all of the offences and demerits in Quebec, go to

Demerit Points Table

Points For Those Without Licences

People who don't have a driver's licence, can also earn demerit points. Consider for example passenger-style offences like: not wearing a seatbelt, not wearing a helmet if on a motorcycle, scooter or moped, or holding onto or being pushed by a vehicle. For those without a licence, the SAAQ will open a file so that there will be a record of the offence and the demerit points recorded. Once 4 or more points are accumulated, they will be prohibited from obtaining a licence for a minimum of 3 months.

Beginner or Probationary Drivers

Learning drivers are subject to stringent rules. If a driver with a learner's or probationary licence acquires 4 demerits, their licence is revoked for at least 3 months. On top of that, three months is added to the learning or probationary period.

Demerit Points and Fully Licensed Drivers

Fully licensed drivers also have to follow the rules; but the number of demerits allowed before their licence is revoked or cancelled varies by the driver's age. Drivers can lose their driving privileges when they:

• Get 8 or more points and are under the age of 23
• Get 12 or more points if 23 or 24
• Get 15 or more points if 25 or older

How long a person's licence is revoked for will vary; but it will be at least for three months, but it could be for six or 12 months too, depending on: the demerit point bracket, the total number of demerit points, and how long the driver's last revocation was for if it was within the last 2 years.

Demerit Point Penalties

The demerit points system was put into place to help drivers be more aware of their behaviour, and prompt them to change any negative actions. Driving safe and being responsible on the road is a good thing to do, and will ensure that you are driving for a long time-driving safe and ticket-free will also ensure you pay less for your driver's licence and auto insurance.