G2 Licence Restrictions in Ontario

Looking for G2 Licence restrictions in Ontario?

Obtaining a car driving license in Ontario starts with earning the Graduation Driving Licence (GDL), which allows drivers to operate class G vehicles such as cars, vans, and compact trucks. However, the GDL program requires drivers to advance progressively through three stages, from the G1 Licence through the G2 Licence, to attain full G Licencing eventually.

Obtaining a G2 Licence marks an exciting stage in the GDL program for a few reasons, including:

• A G2 Licence allows you to drive on any road, including highways
• G2 Licenced drivers can drive at night, even between midnight and 5 am
• With a G2 Licence, you can drive without any supervision
• A G2 Licenced driver can be registered as a secondary driver in a vehicle’s insurance policy- a great way to start stacking up on your insurance history.
• Drivers with G2 Licencing can buy cars and be listed as the registered owners and primary drivers.
• A G2 Licenced driver is permitted to carry passengers, although this provision has specific restrictions.
• The G2 Licence takes you a step closer to obtaining full G Licencing- you can book your G Licence test as soon as 12 months after receiving your G2 Licence.

Restrictions to the G2 Licence in Ontario

Despite the rosy perks associated with acquiring a G2 Licence, it’s essential to acquaint yourself with Ontario’s various G2 Licence restrictions, rules, and responsibilities before hitting the road. All G2 Licenced drivers must honour these restrictions in Ontario to stay safe on the road and avoid violating traffic laws:

1. Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) and THC Restrictions

G2 Licence drivers must maintain zero BAC and THC levels when driving in Ontario. Driving under the influence of alcohol or cannabis with a G2 Licence is considered a crime punishable by law per traffic law provisions in Ontario.

2. Passenger Limitations

G2 Licence holders over 19 can only carry as many passengers as the vehicle’s working seatbelts. On top of this, each passenger must wear a seatbelt when the G2 Licence driver is behind the wheel. Contrary to most circumstances where passengers are responsible for seatbelt use, G2 Licence drivers ensure their passengers adhere to seatbelt use requirements.

G2 drivers aged below 19 years face more G2 Licence restrictions when driving at night between midnight and 5 am, including:

• During the first six months of using the G2 Licence, the driver is only permitted to be accompanied by one passenger aged under 19 years.
• After six months of using the G2 Licence, a driver can carry up to three passengers aged 19 or younger.

Nevertheless, G2 Licence drivers are exempt from these passenger number limitations when driving between the hours of midnight and 5 am if:

• The G2 Licenced driver is accompanied by a full G Licence holder with more than four years of driving experience sitting in the front passenger seat. The accompanying driver must also have a Blood Alcohol Concentration level of less than 0.05 per cent if they are over 21 years of age and zero BAC level if they are under 21 years of age.
• The passengers are members of the G2 Licence driver’s immediate family, such as parents, a spouse, a child, brothers, or sisters.

G2 Restrictions and Traffic Law Infringements in Ontario

Violating traffic laws with a G2 driving licence exposes the driver to a variety of consequences depending on the nature and frequency of the offence, such as:

• Traffic tickets
• Traffic fines
• Licence suspension
• Licence revocation
• Criminal conviction
• Demerit points
• Elevated insurance premium rates

G2 license holders are considered novice drivers, so their penalties for traffic law infringements differ from those enforced on fully licensed drivers. For instance, a G2 licence attracts a 60-day suspension for getting nine or more demerit points, whereas a full G Licence faces a 30-day suspension for accumulating 15 or more demerit points.

G2 Licence Escalating Penalties in Ontario

G2 Licence holders are subject to escalating penalties for violating G2 Licence restrictions and serious Traffic Act offences that lead to four or more demerit points, such as dangerous and careless driving. The penalties get severe with each subsequent conviction.  For instance, a G2 Licence driver who violates the zero tolerance restrictions for alcohol and cannabis use or commits another grave Traffic Act offence faces these escalating penalties:

• 30-day licence suspension on the first conviction
• 90-day licence suspension on the second conviction
• G2 licence revocation on the third conviction. At this point, the driver must retake the Graduation Driving Licence course from the start, pay all requisite fees, and retake all the tests. The worst part is that their previous driving experience doesn’t count.

After spending 12 months with a G2 Licence in Ontario, you can book a full G driving licence test, which elevates you to a fully-fledged G Licence driver with more privileges and fewer restrictions. However, you have five years from the time you received your G1 Licence to obtain a full G Licence. This means you have sufficient time to build up your experience and confidence behind the wheel in various traffic and road conditions as you prepare for the full G Licence assessment.

Contact Yusra Driving School if you are looking for driving school in Scarborough.