What is dangerous driving, and how does it impact your car insurance rate?

This article has been updated from a previous version. 

In May 2020, a 75-year-old man from Fort Vermillion, Alta. died when his van was struck by a pickup truck in west Edmonton. The passengers in the van, spanning multiple generations, included his wife, grandson, and great grandson. The incident left the woman — who died a few months later — seriously injured, along with their grandson.   

Recently, the driver of the pickup truck was sentenced to six years in prison for impaired and dangerous driving by an Edmonton court and banned from driving for a decade. 

During the holiday season, celebrations and gatherings become more frequent, often accompanied by increased alcohol consumption.  

This festive time, however, brings a heightened risk of dangerous driving, particularly impaired driving, which will not only result in a fine — it can also have serious impacts on your auto insurance rate or get your policy cancelled altogether.  

Is dangerous driving a criminal act?  

Yes, dangerous driving is considered a criminal offence in Canada.  

The Criminal Code of Canada recognizes dangerous driving as when someone drives a vehicle in a manner that is dangerous, causes bodily harm or results in the death of another person.  

The vehicle can include a car, van, truck, boat, aircraft, or railway equipment. Dangerous Driving primarily arises when the driver does not exercise reasonable care while driving, which could or has posed danger to other people.   

Every driver in Canada is bound by driving laws, and failure to abide by them results in serious consequences. If a driver is found driving in a manner that can pose a threat to public safety, they would need to appear in court. If proven guilty, the judge could hand down severe punishments, including a criminal record and other penalties like traffic tickets.   

Repercussions of dangerous driving   

If convicted of dangerous driving in Ontario, the driver could face a jail term, fine, and a licence suspension. The driver would have a criminal record on file and would also witness a drastic increase in their car insurance premium for up to five years.   

Depending on the individual case, the court can decide on a combination of punishments for the offence. The duration of the jail term also varies according to the circumstances of the case.  

Read more: This is how traffic tickets affect your insurance rate in Ontario 

You’ll pay 156% more in insurance if you’re convicted of distracted driving 

One of the penalties associated with a dangerous driving conviction is a substantial and drastic increase in the auto insurance premium that the driver would have to pay.  

While the increase would vary in different circumstances, the higher insurance premium can remain on your record for up to five years — which will follow you from insurer to insurer. In some cases, the judge could also impose a driving restriction for a certain period.  

To illustrate the insurance consequences of a dangerous driving conviction, we ran a test quote on the LowestRates.ca auto insurance quoter. The results revealed a dramatic 156% increase in the lowest rate offered to a 35-year-old male in downtown Toronto driving a 2022 Honda Civic, after a dangerous driving conviction in the last three years.   

For a driver with a clean driving and insurance record, the insurance costs are approximately $330.75 per month, totaling $3,969 annually.  

Conversely, a driver with a 2022 distracted driving conviction that led to a one-year license suspension and insurance policy cancellation faces costs rising to $845.50 per month, or $10,146 annually. The increase could stay on file for several years and will increase if you were found responsible for causing an at-fault accident while distracted driving.  

The best thing a driver in this situation can do until their rate returns to normal is compare car insurance rates each year to ensure they’re still getting the lowest rate for their circumstances.  

Lastly, during the holiday season, practice mindfulness and responsibility. Make sure you have a designated driver or alternative transportation if alcohol is part of your celebration. 

Read next: Does distracted driving increase your insurance in Canada?