Drivers in the Penalty Zone are assessed a financial penalty for certain driving incidents and are not eligible for a discount on their vehicle insurance.
How it works
- You lose points (demerits) on the Safety Rating Scale for certain incidents such as being at fault for a collision (-6 points), being 50% at fault for a collision (-3 points) or certain traffic convictions and roadside suspensions (-3 or -4 points). See a breakdown of points value for driving incidents.
- You're assessed a financial penalty of $25 for each point you move in the Penalty Zone.
- The further an incident moves you into the Penalty Zone, the more you pay for that incident - to a maximum of $500 per incident.
- If you're convicted of a traffic-related Criminal Code offence, like impaired driving, you'll move to at least -20 on the scale and receive the maximum financial penalty of $500, regardless of your position on the scale prior to the incident. The penalty for Criminal Code convictions resulting in injury or death, however, is $2,500.
- You have 90 days to pay any financial penalties.
Multiple incidents
A multiple incident exists when a driver is involved in an at-fault collision and is charged and subsequently convicted of a traffic conviction related to the at-fault collision. Where you move on the Safety Rating Scale depends on where you are placed on the scale after the at-fault collision is applied. If you remain at or above 0 after the collision is applied, you will not be penalized for the traffic conviction. If you fall below 0 after the collision is applied, you will receive a financial penalty for the collision, based on your safety rating after the collision. Then your safety rating will be further reduced for the traffic conviction, but you will not be charged a financial penalty for the traffic conviction. Please note that these rules do not apply to Criminal Code offences or suspensions.
Entering the Penalty Zone
Moving further into the Penalty Zone
How to move out of the Penalty Zone
You can move out of the Penalty Zone through safe driving.
- Each year of incident-free driving moves you 1 point towards the Safety Zone.
- As long as you're moving towards the Safety Zone, you do not pay another financial penalty - you pay only your base vehicle insurance premium.
- After 3 consecutive years of safe driving, drivers remaining in the Penalty Zone automatically return to neutral - the starting point on the scale.
Moving toward the Safety Zone
Back in the Safety Zone
Penalties paid through the Safe Driver Recognition program are in addition to fines handed out by law enforcement for traffic convictions. Those at fault for a collision also pay their insurance deductibles.
