Road Safety

Improving road safety and enforcing the rules of the road are significant priorities for the Ottawa Police Service.

We all have a responsibility to ensure road safety.

Motorists

Obey the rules of the road.
Be aware of your surroundings at all times.
Slow down near e-scooters, cyclists, motorcyclists, pedestrians, and other road users.
Drive safely and provide a 1-metre distancing rule for cyclists and e-scooters.
Be courteous and avoid driving through puddles near others.
Be on the lookout for less visible road users, including double-checking for cyclists, pedestrians, motorcyclists, and e-scooter users when changing lanes, turning, or when exiting your parked vehicle.

Motorcyclists:

Obey the rules of the road.
Share the road with other road users.
Keep a safe distance from other vehicles.
Avoid unexpected and unpredictable moves.
Practice in an empty parking lot to refine slow speed maneuvers, quick braking, and swerves.
Watch out for damaged road surfaces. Avoid these areas until they are repaired to prevent damage to your motorcycle or to yourself.
Pay attention to what other drivers are doing and make yourself as visible as possible by wearing bright colors.
Have your motorcycle inspected regularly. Check cables, fluid levels, brakes and tire treads and air pressure.

Cyclists:

Obey the rules of the road.
Share the road with others.
Use hand signals to indicate what you're doing and where you're going.
Avoid unpredictable movements.
Equip your bike with a bell and lights.
Watch out for road debris, sand, and gravel when making turns.
Every cyclist under 18 years old must wear an approved bicycle helmet by provincial law.
Riders 10 years old or older must ride on the road, not on sidewalks.
- Ontario guidelines allow children under 10 to use sidewalks until they build the skills to ride bikes safely on roads.
- Sidewalk riders must yield to pedestrians, go slow, and share the path and dismount and walk their bike to cross at pedestrian crosswalks and crossovers.
It is illegal to ride on controlled access highways, such as Ontario's 400-series highways.

Obey the rules of the road. The same rules and fines apply while operating any vehicle on the road.
- Do not drive distracted and do not drive impaired.
Ride in bike lanes or on the shoulder of a roadway and not on sidewalks.
- Riders who are found using their e-scooters on sidewalks are subject to a $150 fine.

You must be at least 16-years-old to use an e-scooter.

All riders are encouraged to wear helmets and wear bright and reflective clothing so that drivers can see them during the day and at night.
- If you are under 18-years-old, you must wear a helmet. It is the law. A fine of $__may apply.

Your e-scooters must have a bell or a horn, as well as a white light on the front of the e-scooter and a red light on the back of the vehicle (to be turned on at dusk).

E-scooters are designed for one user at a time. You may not ride an e-scooter with a passenger.

E-scooters are not permitted on NCC cycling paths or in the ByWard Market.

Obey the rules of the road.
E-bikes are permitted a maximum speed of 32 km/h.
E-bikes must be designed to travel on no more than three wheels.
You must be 16 years of age or older to drive an e-bike.
All operators must wear an approved bicycle or motorcycle helmet.
An e-bike must be maintained in good working order while being operated.
An e-bike no longer meets the legal definition of an e-bike if its pedals have been removed or
the vehicle exceeds the 32 km/h speed limitation on public roadways. Other considerations apply.

Obey pedestrian safety rules.
Always walk or wheelchair on the available sidewalks.
Cross safely at an intersection or crosswalk.
Teach, practice, and remind children to look both ways before crossing a street.
If walking a dog, keep pets on a leash when on the sidewalk.
Watch for young cyclists, strollers, wagons and more! Ontario guidelines allow children under 10 to use sidewalks when riding bikes until they build the skills to ride safely on roads.
Sidewalk riders must yield to pedestrians, go slow, and share the path.
If walking or jogging at night, wear reflective gear to be more visible to drivers.

Ottawa Police cruiser with lights on at night. / Une voiture de police d'Ottawa, feux allumés, la nuit.

Impaired Driving

In Ontario, drivers with a .08 Blood Alcohol Count (BAC) or more who refuse to provide a breath sample or are determined to be impaired following a drug recognition evaluation will have their licence suspended immediately for 90 days.

Distracted Driving

No distraction is worth your life or that of others. As a driver, it's your responsibility to focus on the road so that you can react to changing road conditions and unexpected situations.

It takes an attentive driver 1.5 seconds to react to a situation on the roadway. When drivers are distracted, reaction time increases. Find out more about the Leave the Phone Alone campaign with our activity sheets and class education materials to help drivers stay focused.

Car Seat Safety

The best car seat is the one that fits your child, your vehicle, and can be used correctly each and every time. Visit the Ottawa Safety Council for information on car seat safety and installation.

Collision Reporting

Know what to do in the event of a collision. Collision Reporting Centres are available in three locations in Ottawa. Save time by starting your report online. Find out more on our Collisions Reporting Centres page.

Ottawa Police cruiser at a collision scene. / Une voiture de police d'Ottawa sur les lieux d'un accident.

Traffic Complaint

Aside from obeying the rules of the road yourself and being courteous and sharing the road with others, you can help make Ottawa roads safer by reporting traffic incidents to the Police.

Back to School Safety

In Ottawa, students return to class in August and September. With more children walking, cycling, and taking the bus, it’s important for drivers, parents, and students to do their part to stay alert and help keep roads and school zones safe.