As you can imagine, speeding is one of the leading causes of road accidents. Even if you think you’re in total control of your vehicle, you need to respect the speed limit. Remember—you’re not alone on the road and accidents can happen without warning. Speeding tickets are one of the most common types of traffic tickets among Canadians. Impatience, rushing to get to your destination, or even a second of distraction could potentially cause you to speed even if you don’t realize it. So what do speeding tickets really cost?
They could increase your car insurance rates
Insurance companies have different guidelines, but in many cases, multiple speeding tickets could result in an increase of your insurance rates.
They lead to demerit points
Speeding also leads to the accumulation of demerit points. Different provinces have different rules so check with your Ministry of Transportation. In Ontario, if you drive:
- 16 to 29 km over the limit, you’ll get 3 demerit points
- 30 to 49 km over the limit, you’ll get 4 demerit points
- 50+ km over the limit, you’ll get 6 demerit points
In most provinces, demerit points stay on your driving record for 2 years from the conviction date. Depending on the number of demerit points and where you live, you might receive a warning letter, have to attend an interview, have your license suspended or have to redo your driving test.
They tarnish your driving record
Breaking a traffic law will have a negative impact on your driving record and could get you into legal trouble. Keep in mind that the moment you pay the fines, you automatically plead guilty to the infraction. Also remember that if you ignore the ticket, you will be convicted and if you do not pay the ticket, your license will be suspended.
In conclusion, here are three handy tips :
- Leave earlier for appointments
- Try using the ‘’cruise control’’ option in your car to maintain a constant speed
- Pay close attention to your speedometer as well as the speed limits on the road
Keeping these simple tips in mind, you can maintain a good driving record and keep your auto insurance rates from increasing.