On behalf of the Ontario…

On behalf of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) please find attached our submission with respect to ERO # 019-8461 / ORR # 24-MTO010 (Safer Roads and Communities Act, 2024 – Establishing Regulation Making Authority to Redefine E-bikes). This submission has also been posted to our website: https://ofa.on.ca/resources/ofa-submission-regarding-the-safer-roads-an…

As more traffic enters our rural areas for tourism, recreation, and for commuting, there are more instances of collisions with farm equipment. Speed is almost always a factor. For a vehicle travelling at high speed, the time to close a 100-metre gap to a slow-moving farm vehicle is a few seconds, time needed to recognize the equipment, realize it is travelling slowly, and safely reduce vehicle speed. We support strengthening mandatory minimum licence suspensions and mandatory measures for stunt driving and impaired driving.

OFA recommends all operators in control of e-bikes using the roadway, be required to have at minimum a G2 or M2 driver’s licence, so they have a rudimentary knowledge of the proper rules for safe driving. Additionally, OFA recommends that the Official MTO Driver’s Handbook include reference to the roadside slow-moving vehicle caution sign and an example of the distinctive triangular Slow-Moving Vehicle (SMV) placard. This would help drivers understand and remain alert for flashing amber lights and the SMV sign on farm equipment, indicating the vehicle can travel at maximum 40 kmph.

OFA continues to highlight safe driving practices related to farm machinery travelling between fields and farms. Farmers have a limited time to plant and harvest crops that feed our communities. Drivers incorrectly passing and travelling at high-speed results in serious accidents.

Kindest regards.