In order to become a better driver, you need to have a strong understanding of the rules of the road. Road signs can help you identify the rules of the road, but if you want to abide by them, you need to know what they mean. Today, we are covering the topic of yellow speed limit signs so that you can learn what they mean, how to react to them and develop good driver habits in the process.
Types of speed limit signs in Canada
There are multiple types of speed limit signs in Canada. While most speed limit signs in the country have a white background with black lettering, you will sometimes find speed limit signs that have a yellow background with black lettering. These are known as yellow speed limit signs.
Yellow speed limit signs, like white speed limit signs, can be found on any road, from rural roads to urban and suburban roads. However, unlike white speed limit signs, which are enforceable by law, yellow speed limit signs are not.
Yellow speed limit signs are considered advisory signs. These are different from white speed limit signs, which are regulatory signs.
White vs. yellow speed limit signs
What is an advisory speed limit sign? Advisory speed limit signs, also known as yellow speed limit signs, offer suggested speed limits, the purpose of which is to warn a driver of potentially hazardous road conditions that may necessitate a slower speed. These may be near a hidden driveway or around a sharp bend in the road.
Thus, these suggested speed limits are based on the conditions of the road. For example, yellow speed limit signs are often found on exit ramps or curved roads as a recommendation that the driver slow down to the speed limit posted on the sign to ensure their own safety and the safety of other cars around them. Not only can driving around curves be more dangerous, but it can also impact your line of sight, which is why slowing down is advised.
Although the speed limits on yellow signs are not rules, they are still suggestions that should be taken seriously. They are not enforceable by law, but they should be obeyed, especially if you are taking a road test. In addition, while ignoring a speed limit sign with a yellow background is not an offence in and of itself if an incident occurs partially due to your failing to heed the sign’s warning, this could be considered when a fault is determined.
In contrast, white speed limit signs, which are a type of regulatory sign, must be obeyed. In other words, drivers must not exceed the speed limit posted on the sign, or else they could receive a speeding ticket. Other types of regulatory signs include turn restrictions, parking restrictions, and directional instructions.
When you disobey a regulatory sign, such as failing to stop at a stop sign, you could receive a traffic ticket, which would likely mean a fine and possibly an increase to your car insurance premium.
Risks of speeding
Speeding is a huge risk. Whether you’re sharing the road with motorcycles, bicycles, other cars, or pedestrians, when you speed, you significantly increase the chances of a collision. That is why one of the top safe driving tips is to obey the speed limit at all times.
As mentioned above, even if you don’t get a speeding ticket for disobeying a yellow speed limit sign, there can still be consequences. For instance, you might be more likely to skid or swerve if you do not reduce your speed to the recommended limit. Your braking time will also be reduced, which is what makes keeping a safe distance between cars so important.
Getting into an accident can have serious consequences, not just on your wallet but also on your life. Severe car accidents can also cause major injuries and can even be fatal. Some of the most common injuries that may arise from car accidents caused by speeding include whiplash, neck and back injuries, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, soft tissue injuries, and broken bones. Some of these injuries can have severe long-term effects on your health and your ability to live your life. Learn more about what to do if you’re in a car accident here.
Meanwhile, in terms of the financial consequences, depending on the circumstances of the accident, you might be on the hook for various costs. If you were found to be speeding at the time of the collision, then you might receive a speeding ticket, which will include a fine.
In addition, the odds of you being found liable for the accident are higher, which translates to more costs that you are responsible for. While third-party liability car insurance might cover the costs incurred by the victim for an at-fault accident, you would need to have extra car insurance coverage, such as collision insurance, to pay for the cost of repairing or replacing your car if it was damaged in the accident.
Fines for speeding in Ontario
As mentioned, one of the consequences of speeding in Ontario is that you could receive a fine. While you won’t be fined for disobeying a yellow speed limit sign since they are advisory and not regulatory, you can be fined for disobeying a white speed limit sign.
In Ontario, the amount of money that you will be fined depends on how far over the speed limit you were driving at the time of the infraction. You will be fined at a higher rate the faster you are travelling. Below are the details of how much you will be fined according to how fast you were driving:
- 1-19 km/h over the speed limit = $2.50 per kilometre
- 20-29 km/h over the speed limit = $3.75 per kilometre
- 30-39 km/h over the speed limit = $6.00 per kilometre
- 50km/h or more over the speed limit = Settled in court
Fines for speeding in a Community Safety Zone in Ontario are double that of regular roads. So if you are caught speeding in a Community Safety Zone, such as in front of a school, you will receive a fine according to the following rate:
- 1-19 km/h over the speed limit = $5.00 per kilometre
- 20-29 km/h over the speed limit = $7.50 per kilometre
- 30-39 km/h over the speed limit = $12.00 per kilometre
- 50km/h or more over the speed limit = Settled in court
Victim surcharge fee/victim fine surcharge for speeding tickets in Ontario
It is important to note that in addition to the fine that you can incur for speeding, you will also be required to pay a victim surcharge fee or victim fine surcharge in Ontario. This extra fee must be paid on top of the fine issued to you, and like your speeding ticket fine, the amount you must pay in victim surcharge fees depends on the amount of your speeding ticket. Therefore, it is also dependent on how fast you were travelling at the time of the infraction, with higher speeds equalling a higher victim fine surcharge. Your victim surcharge fee will be assigned as follows:
- $0-$50 speeding ticket fine = $10 victim surcharge fine
- $51-$75 speeding ticket fine = $15 victim surcharge fine
- $76-$100 speeding ticket fine = $20 victim surcharge fine
- $101-$150 speeding ticket fine = $25 victim surcharge fine
- $151-$200 speeding ticket fine = $35 victim surcharge fine
- $201-$250 speeding ticket fine = $50 victim surcharge fine
- $251-$300 speeding ticket fine = $60 victim surcharge fine
- $301-$350 speeding ticket fine = $75 victim surcharge fine
- $351-$400 speeding ticket fine = $85 victim surcharge fine
- $401-$450 speeding ticket fine = $95 victim surcharge fine
- $451-$500 speeding ticket fine = $110 victim surcharge fine
- $501-$1000 speeding ticket fine = $125 victim surcharge fine
- Over $1000 speeding ticket fine = 25% of speeding ticket fine
How speed can affect car insurance in Ontario
If you decide to speed and you end up getting caught, then you will likely be given a speeding ticket. How do speeding tickets impact your car insurance plan? We answer this question below.
The main way that speeding tickets impact car insurance plans in Ontario is that they can increase your premium. Any type of driving infraction, whether it be an at-fault collision, a speeding ticket, or a careless driving ticket, can increase your premium. These types of infractions end up on your driving record, and the poorer your record, the higher your rates will be.
If you recently got a speeding ticket, then you may not notice an increase in your premium right away. Rather, you will only notice it when it comes time to renew your policy. If you want to know how much your premium will rise the next time your policy is renewed, speak with a BrokerLink insurance broker today. We can explain how specific types of speeding tickets affect rates.
For example, one of our licensed insurance advisors can let you know that photo radar speeding tickets will not impact your premium because they don’t go on your record. However, regular speeding tickets can. The amount that they can accuse your rates to increase depends on how fast you were going at the time of infraction, as well as how many other tickets you have on your record and where the infraction took place. For instance, if the speeding ticket was given to you in a construction zone or a Community Safety Zone, your premium might increase more than if the speeding ticket was given to you on a regular road.
Get in touch with BrokerLink
If you still have questions about yellow speed limit signs, reach out to BrokerLink today. We can explain what yellow speed limit signs mean and give you all sorts of safe driving tips, like the importance of maintaining a safe following distance between vehicles and always checking your blind spots.
In addition, we can help you find whatever type of auto insurance policy you’re after, whether it’s young driver's insurance, occasional driver insurance, senior car insurance, or a different type of coverage.
Get in touch with BrokerLink today to request a free car insurance quote.
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