Traffic laws are important because they keep people safe. A motor vehicle is a dangerous and deadly weapon in the wrong hands. The safety of all road users depends on all drivers following a precise set of rules. Traffic laws dictate the speed you must travel at, the maneuvers you can make, where you can and cannot drive and how you must drive in certain situations. The number of vehicles on the road has increased a lot through out the 20th century, and with it, the number of traffic-related injuries and deaths. Studies have proven time and time again that drivers are more likely to abide by the rules if they fear punishment and less likely to if they believe they can get away with it. As a result, traffic laws are now strictly enforced, with each province having a dedicated department for the enforcement of traffic rules and regulations.
Most traffic law violations are “strict liability” offenses rather than crimes, for which the offender is issued a ticket. This means that a driver can be found guilty and punished without having to be tried in criminal court. Such violations include: speeding, illegal parking, failure to stop at a stop sign. Some serious traffic violation can results in criminal charges.
Even strict traffic laws, fines and penalties cannot make all drivers obey the rules. Drivers frequently break the rules of the road through deliberate disregard or simply by not paying attention. Millions of traffic tickets are issued in Canada every year.
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